Will Wales get a home game in the play-offs?
On Tuesday evening, qualifying for the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be completed in Europe. However, only ten of the 13 tickets will have been allocated by then, the three remaining tickets will be awarded in the play-offs in the spring. Wales will then also be a fixed participant – and yet the last international match of the year is still important. Wales and Belgium will face each other at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.
The Belgian national football team, once again, completed their qualifying campaign very convincingly and at no point left any doubt about their first place. Wales have a three-point (and two-goal) lead over the Czech Republic before their last group match. A draw would therefore be enough to secure second place. However, Page’s team will (have to) play to win in order to have home advantage in the play-off semi-finals in March
The fact that Belgian head coach Roberto Martinez will be cranking up the rotation machine will certainly play into the Welsh side’s favour. Belgium will by no means be at their best and this explains the high odds on the visitors in Wales vs. Belgium. The match kicks off at 20:45 on Tuesday.
Wales – Statistics & current form
There are now two ways to get a World Cup ticket. The ten group winners have the fixed ticket in their pocket. The other three tickets are determined by the ten group runners-up and the two best non-qualified teams from the Nations League
Wales already in the play-offs
Even in the worst-case scenario (third place through defeat and a Czech home win), Wales would still be able to dream of their first World Cup appearance since 1958. The Page team would then be the best team in the Nations League not to have qualified. However, a play-off place thanks to the Nations League would mean that the semi-finals would definitely be played away from home. The six best group runners-up will have home rights and for this reason alone the final international match against the Belgian selection is by no means meaningless.
For the ranking of the six best group runners-up, the matches against the last-placed team in the six-team groups will be deducted. Wales are currently in that coveted sixth place, but could still be overtaken by Scotland and Turkey. With a win, Page’s side would have the home game locked up. In the top match between Wales and Belgium, odds of around 3.20 are currently being offered for this bet.
Unbeaten in seven games
Interim coach Robert Page, who is currently in charge of the team due to the assault charge against Ryan Giggs, has been doing a lot of self-promotion in recent weeks and months. At the European Championship, the team made it through the group stage before being beaten by “danish dynamite”. However, this defeat in the last 16 was the last defeat for the red dragons. Wales are now unbeaten in seven international matches and are brimming with confidence.
Last weekend, the team played refreshing attacking football and celebrated a commanding 5:1 victory against Belarus. The only point of criticism was the yellow card for ex-Leipzig Ethan Ampadu, who will miss the last match against Belgium. Otherwise, no major changes are expected and the Welsh will be able to play with their best line-up.
Predicted line-up of Wales:
Ward – Williams, Mepham, Rodon, Davies – Wilson, Allen, Ramsey, Roberts – James, Bale
Last matches played by Wales:
World Cup Qualification UEFA 1st Round Grp. E
11/13 2021 – Wales 5 – 1 Belarus
10/11 2021 – Estonia 0 – 1 Wales
10/08 2021 – Czech Republic 2 – 2 Wales
09/08 2021 – Wales 0 – 0 Estonia
09/05 2021 – Belarus 2 – 3 Wales
Belgium – Statistics & current form
Although Belgium’s “golden generation” has failed to score a major coup in recent years, Roberto Martinez’s side have been at the top of the FIFA World Ranking for some time now. This is a sign that the team is performing at a consistently high level. In the current qualifiers, too, de Brunye & Co presented themselves extremely confidently and have had their ticket in the bag since last weekend.
19 out of 21 possible points
After the disappointment at the Nations League Finals (dramatic defeats against France and Italy), they managed the expected must-win against underdog Estonia on Saturday. However, the Belgian team certainly did not deliver a gala performance in the 3:1 victory against underdog Estonia. Against an opponent like Estonia, however, even a mediocre performance was enough. Belgium now have 19 out of a possible 21 points and only lost a point in the away game in the Czech Republic (1-1 draw).
With qualification finally secured, Roberto Martinez is expected to rotate his starting line-up. Romelu Lukaku is absent from this course anyway, Kevin de Bruyne, Thomas Meunier or Jan Vertonghen are candidates who would certainly benefit from a break. The quality on the bench is enormous, but Belgium will certainly be a little weaker due to the expected changes. If only because the usual automatic mechanisms no longer work. The odds on the visitors in the Wales vs. Belgium clash are very lucrative, but due to the new formation of the team, betting on them is too risky.
Six times “Over 2.5” in seven games
The current betting odds for at least three goals are quite surprising for this match. Depending on the bookmaker, just over double the stake is offered for this in the event of success. Belgium is a team that wants to take charge and always looks for the way forward. No matter who is on the pitch, nothing will change in the basic offensive direction.
In addition, six of the last seven international matches of the red devils were crowned with success when betting on an over 2.5. Since Wales are also expected to win the match, a relatively offensive game is expected. Value is therefore definitely a given with Wales vs. Belgium when betting on at least three goals.
Predicted line-up of Belgium:
Casteels – Vertonghen, Boyata, Castagne – Mertens, Dendoncker, Lokonga, Saelemakers – T. Hazard, Vanaken – Origi
Last matches played by Belgium:
World Cup Qualification UEFA 1st Round Grp. E
11/13 2021 – Belgium 3 – 1 Estonia
UEFA Nations League A Championship Playoff
10/10 2021 – Italy 2 – 1 Belgium
10/07 2021 – Belgium 2 – 3 France
WM Qualification UEFA 1st Round Grp. E
09/08 2021 – Belarus 0 – 1 Belgium
09/05 2021 – Belgium 3 – 0 Czech Republic
Wales – Belgium Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
In the recent past, the red dragons (Wales) and the red devils (Belgium) have faced each other regularly. Qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and for Euro 2016, at the 2016 finals and now in the current qualifiers. In these six matches since 2012, there have been two outcomes to each match. Belgium won the first leg of the current qualifying campaign 3:1 despite going behind early on.
Wales – Belgium Tip
Wales are in the play-offs, Belgium are in the World Cup – basically, the starting position before the top match in this group is clear. And yet the match has great relevance, especially for the home side, because home advantage in the semi-finals would be a big plus. Belgium, on the other hand, will by no means be in their best line-up and therefore the focus is on a prediction in the direction of the home side when it comes to Wales vs. Belgium.
Under interim coach Page, Wales have been very strong recently and will welcome the number one in the FIFA world rankings with a broad chest. Belgium have enormous individual quality even if they rotate through, but it is still worth trying the Draw-No-Bet market in favour of the home side. After all, lucrative odds of up to 2.38 are still offered for Wales against Belgium. With the protection of the cashback in the event of a draw, great value is offered here, six units are used as a stake.
