Canada celebrates World Cup return!
In Group F, Belgium, at least a minor favourite for the title, enters the competition. The World Cup bronze medallists from last year’s edition in Russia will face Canada in their opening match. For the “Reds”, again, participation is already a great success.
For the first time since 1986 and only the second time in their history, the Canadians are represented at a World Cup. The fact that a country has 36 years between two participations also represents the second longest drought after Wales (64 years) among the nations taking part this time.
For the clash between Belgium and Canada, the prediction is a narrow victory for the Belgian favourites with a one-goal lead.
Belgium – Statistics & current form
The “Diables Rouges” are already playing in their 14th World Cup – but they have never managed to win a title. This is the highest number of participations by a European team without a triumph.
However, the strength of coach Roberto Martinez’s team was evident at the last World Cup, when Belgium scored 16 goals, the best tally of any country at the finals in Russia, to finish third.
Furthermore, since 1994 and a 1-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia, Belgium have not lost any of their 12 subsequent group matches and have won all of their past seven.
Should Belgium win again, they would equal Brazil’s previous record of winning eight group matches in a row, although the record-breaking world champions have achieved this feat twice before (1986-1994 and 2002-2010).
Question marks behind top striker Lukaku
One of the hopes in the attack is Romelu Lukaku. The Inter Milan striker is the top scorer in the country’s history and “Big Rome” was actually also one of the favourites in the question: “Who will be World Cup top scorer?”
However, the 29-year-old has been injured recently and has not played more than four league games in Serie A this season. It is to be expected that he will probably not be able to play for the full season in the preliminary round, as he lacks fitness due to several injury breaks at the same time.
This naturally represents a weakening of Belgium’s offensive, as Lukaku has also been very strong in his previous participations in a World Cup or European Championship. Since the 2014 World Cup, for example, Cristiano Ronaldo alone has scored 13 goals, two more than Belgium’s top striker at such major tournaments.
KDB is in captivating form
On the other hand, the squad is strong even without Lukaku. One example is Kevin de Bruyne. The Manchester City redhead has managed no less than nine assists since his first appearance at a World Cup in 2014.
His teammate Eden Hazard alone has the same number, and no other European player has delivered more successful assists at World Cups in that time span!
KDB is also currently in a particularly intelligent mood again: He has nine assists for the Citizens in 14 appearances in the current edition of the British top flight.
In the history of the Premier League, there are only four players who have recorded more assists and none of these players is still active in the Premier League, which is why he will certainly continue to climb in this ranking.
He also already has the record for most assists in a PL season in the bag when he delivered twenty in the 2019/20 season – although he shares the record with Thierry Henry, who is again an assistant coach for the Belgium team at this World Cup!
De Bruyne will be on a goal hunt of his own
With the ailing Lukaku unlikely to be in the starting eleven just yet, however, the 31-year-old will be called upon more as an enforcer this time around.
A task that de Bruyne also often fulfils. He has already scored 25 goals in 93 appearances for the “Rode Duivels”. In light of this, betting on a goal by Kevin de Bruyne in the clash between Belgium and Canada is also recommended.
In the dress rehearsal for the World Cup opener, however, Belgium again conceded a 2-1 defeat to Egypt last Friday. The non-qualified North Africans around Mo Salah in attack once again proved to be a fearful opponent for the “Red Devils”, as they have now won three of the past four comparisons (3-0-1)!
Predicted line-up of Belgium:
Courtois – Debast – Vertonghen – Alderweireld – Castagne – Witsel – Onana – Meunier – de Bruyne – Hazard – Batshuayi
Last matches played by Belgium:
Friendly matches
18/11/2022 – Belgium 1 – 2 Egypt
UEFA Nations League A Grp. 4
26/09/2022 – Netherlands 1 – 0 Belgium
23/09/2022 – Belgium 2 – 1 Wales
15/06/2022 – Poland 0 – 1 Belgium
12/06/2022 – Wales 1 – 1 Belgium
Canada – Statistics & current form
Canada have only played three World Cup games in their history and all of them were lost at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Worse still, in those games the Canadian national team was always denied a goal!
Only Zaire, China and Trinidad and Tobago have gone at least three World Cup games without scoring a goal. Now, however, the North Americans should be scoring goals, as their squad is full of powerful attacking talent.
David leads the attack
First and foremost in this context is Jonathan David. The attacker plays for Lille at club level in Ligue 1 and regularly demonstrates his enormous talent with the “Great Danes”. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals in 15 appearances in the French top flight so far this season.
David has thus clearly confirmed his strong performances from the past two seasons, when the youngster delivered double-digit goal totals for the final tally in each case.
In light of his scoring prowess, the odds on him to score in the match between Belgium and Canada are also worth considering.
This is also supported by the fact that the opposing defence with Jan Vertonghen (35) and Toby Alderweireld (33) is a bit older and will have some problems with the fast youngster.
Larin also knows where the box is
British coach John Herdman’s eleven also has Cyle Larin, another playmaking attacker, at its disposal. The striker is also very familiar with Belgian football, having signed for Jupiler League champions Bruges.
With 24 goals, he is also the top scorer in the country’s history, and in the season before last he was runner-up in the Turkish Süper Lig when Larin was still in the service of the then champions Besiktas.
The Canucks’ offensive prowess was also evident during CONCACAF qualifying for the World Cup. The 23 goals they scored in the last qualifying round were the best of all participating countries.
Canada also won the dress rehearsal for the opening match. Last Thursday, the Herdman team won 2-1 against the World Cup participant and opponent of the German selection in the first group match from Japan.
Predicted line-up of Canada:
Borjan – Miller – Adekugbe – Vitoria – Johnston – Buchanan – Hutchinson – Eustaquio – Davies – David – Larin
Last matches played by Canada:
Friendly matches
17/11/2022 – Japan 1 – 2 Canada
11/11/2022 – Bahrain 2 – 2 Canada
27/09/2022 – Uruguay 2 – 0 Canada
23/09/2022 – Qatar 0 – 2 Canada
CONCACAF Nations League A Grp. 3
14/06/2022 – Honduras 2 – 1 Canada
Belgium – Canada Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Belgium and Canada first faced each other once. It was a friendly match in Ottawa in June 1989 and Canada lost 2-0. This comparison between Belgium and Canada does not influence today’s odds and tips.
Belgium – Canada Tip
For the clash between Belgium and Canada, the prediction includes a win for the “Diables Rouges” with a goal difference. Although the World Cup bronze medallists are favourites, it will not be a walk in the park for the “Red Devils”.
Their opponents are taking part in a World Cup for the first time in 36 years, which is why the euphoria and anticipation in the country is enormous. This will lead to the Canadians being particularly motivated and they finished first in CONCACAF qualifying – ahead of more established nations such as Mexico and the USA.
In addition, they feature several game-changing players like David or Larin, who each kick in Europe, up front. The fact that their top striker Romelu Lukaku went to the World Cup injured speaks for a narrow success for the Belgians.
For the group phase, therefore, he is likely to be given short shrift for the time being. This has weakened the Martinez team’s offensive and Canada proved in World Cup qualifying that it not only has quality in attack, but also in defence: no team conceded fewer goals in CONCACAF qualifying matches.
