Chris Boline
- Belgium v Canada
- Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 14:00 ET
- At the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Canada will make a game of it, but Belgium look the best pick to win this World Cup Group F clash.
Who do Bettors Favor?
Checking out the best-rated online sportsbooks it is no surprise to see Belgium rated as the favorite with bettors to beat their Group F rivals, although I expected to see Belgium available at a shorter price. Roberto Martinez’s team are rated as -210 chances, while Canada can be backed at prices ranging from +570 up to +615 and the draw is around +360
| Belgium v Canada |  |  |  |
| Belgium | -208 | -219 | -210 |
| Draw | +364 | +350 | +360 |
| Canada | +615 | +570 | +600 |
World Cup Group F Betting Briefing
Although Group F of the 2022 World Cup may appear to be relatively uncomplicated on paper, there are some dangers for the Group favorites Belgium and the most likely runners-up Croatia as both of their Group rivals are capable of causing a surprise.
The depth of ability in Belgian football is remarkable this generation of exceptionally talented players hasn’t been able to translate potential into victories, and this may be their final opportunity to claim a major trophy. They will be competing against a Croatian team that, while perhaps not as powerful as it was at the previous World Cup, nevertheless boasts some elite performers.
Neither of the Group’s two weaker clubs will be taken lightly. Canada, a rare World Cup qualifier, will travel to Qatar with a youthful, developing team and was by far the best team during the CONCACAF qualification campaign, while Morocco seems revitalized under a new coach.
Last Chance for Belgian Stars
Once again, Belgium cruised through qualification, going unbeaten and topping their Group, scoring a total of 25 goals and conceding only 8 in the process, and once again they will go into a major tournament with one of the best squads in the world.
But this could be the last chance for Belgian’s star players to get their hands on an international trophy. Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne are two of the greatest players of their generation, and they have been involved in some good campaigns, including at the last World Cup and the 2020/21 Nations League, reaching the semi-finals of both competitions.
Age and an unbalanced squad are significant issues for Belgium. De Bruyne is 31 so this may be his last World Cup while starting striker Romelu Lukaku and Hazard have both had injury problems. Thibaut Courtois remains one of the very best goalkeepers in the world, but two of the first-choice defenders in front of him: Toby Alderweireld and Jan Verthongen, are in their mid-30s and on the slow side.
Exciting Canada Hoping to Make their Mark
Canada are marking their first World Cup appearance since 1986 and they qualified in style. After scoring freely through the first two rounds of qualification, they entered the Third Round with relatively low expectations but showed their newfound confidence and resilience by drawing with the two strongest nations in CONCACAF, the USA and Mexico.
John Herdman’s side put together an 11-game unbeaten streak and clinched qualification with a game to spare, eventually topping the Third Round qualification table.
After shaking up the CONCACAF region, Canada will be keen to make their mark on the biggest stage and they have some exciting young players including Alphonso Davies and Tajon Buchanan. Tactically, they tend to play on the counter, attacking at pace down the flanks, and although their lack of big tournament experience is an obvious problem, they are dangerous opponents in a one-off game.
World Cup Group F Match Betting Pick
Belgium have fallen short on the big international stages many times, but those failures have usually come in the latter stages of the knockout rounds, where the mental scars of previous disappointments may also weigh on them this time round.
They have rarely struggled to make it out of the Group stage, however, and their vast experience has usually enabled them to come through any difficulty. This is arguably one of the tougher Groups that they have faced in major tournaments and this opening game is not straightforward.
Martinez will be particularly concerned about Davies and Buchanan exploiting the space behind his wingbacks if Belgium line up with their usual three-man defense, so we may see him make a switch. I expect Canada to have their moments and if Belgium are off their game defensively, Canada can take advantage. But ultimately, Belgium are a far stronger team and I think they look the best option in the Match Betting markets for this game.
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