-
Belgium vs Canada – World Cup: Team news, injury updates, potential lineups & prediction.
When they face Canada on Wednesday to open their World Cup campaign, Belgium is expected to be without a few key players. Belgium, who won the bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup, will face a Canadian side that is making history.
The anger among fans following Belgium’s defeats in the Nations League finals and the Euro 2020 final puts pressure on manager Roberto Martinez to perform for the country.
While things may not be going well in the Belgian camp right now, John Herdman’s Canadian team is having a fantastic time.
Canada’s performance on the road in qualifying, where they won only two of seven games, and in their most recent CONCACAF Nations League match, which they lost on the road in Honduras, is cause for concern.
Despite having a very difficult group on paper, they will be confident of improving on their only previous finals trip in 1986, when they lost all three games without scoring. However, with a much superior squad this time around, they will be confident of improving on that.
Here’s all you need to know about Belgium’s and Canada’s World Cup encounter:
-
Team News:
Belgium:
The primary issue in Belgium in the run-up to the competition was whether or not Lukaku was healthy. The Inter Milan player won’t play in this group opener, so Batshuayi is expected to start, while Lois Openda is also a possibility.
Thorgan Hazard, who was one of their great performances at Euro 2020, has struggled with injuries recently, therefore Timothy Castagne or Yannick Carrasco might replace him as a left wing-back.
RELATED:
- Qatar releases dubious World Cup attendance estimates, despite hundreds of vacant seats.
- Arsene Wenger bypassed Brazil & Argentina and names his World Cup favourite
- France vs Australia – World Cup: Team news, possible lineups & prediction
Thorgan’s brother Eden Hazard is a favourite of Martinez’s despite his lack of game time at Real Madrid and will probably start on the left-hand side of a three-pronged attack.
Martinez has come under fire for his continued selection of ageing players, although young centre-back Zeno Debast is expected to start after Dedryck Boyata and Jason Denayer were left off the roster.
Canada:
Almost 20 years after his debut, Canada’s captain Atiba Hutchinson should get his 99th cap while competing in his first major tournament.
Alphonso Davies, a star player, got a hamstring injury while playing for Bayern Munich two weeks ago and is unlikely to compete in this match.
Given his versatility and ability to play full-back, wing-back, on the wing, or as a number 10, Davies is not only Herdman’s primary man but also essential to how they may set up, so losing him would be a significant loss.
While Larin and Tajon Buchanan play in Belgium for Club Brugge, the majority of the predicted starting XI for Canada are European players, thus this Belgian test won’t be unfamiliar to many of them.
-
Possible lineup:
Belgium’s possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Debast; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, Castagne; De Bruyne, Batshuayi, E Hazard
Canada’s possible starting lineup:
Borjan; Laryea, Johnston, Steven Vitoria, K Miller, Adekugbe; Buchanan, Hutchinson, Eustaquio; David, Larin
-
Score prediction:
One of five countries to participate in a World Cup without scoring is Canada. If Herdman’s quick frontline can take advantage of Belgium’s advanced and ageing centre-backs’ immobility, they could be able to end the team’s goalless streak.
Even though Belgium’s defence is vulnerable, it would still be a major surprise if Canada managed to defeat the second-ranked country in the world.
Prediction: Belgium 3-2 Canada