Belgium welcome Wales to Den Dreef in a blockbuster Group E opener in UEFA Qualifying for 2022 FIFA World Cup.
With Group E also containing Belarus, Czech Republic and Estonia, this match is an early six-pointer in the battle for the one automatic qualifying spot for the World Cup Finals.
Team News
Belgium will be without Orel Johnson Mangala who withdrew from the squad as a result of fitness issues.
Wales will be without Aaron Ramsey after the midfielder withdrew with a thigh injury.
Ben Davies (unspecified) and Tom Lockyer (ankle) have also withdrawn.
James Lawrence will join up with the squad in Belgium after Coronavirus protocols prohibited cross-border quarantine restrictions.
Stat Attack
- Belgium are unbeaten in five of six previous World Cup qualifiers against Wales (W4, D1, L1).
- Wales have taken just one point from three away qualifiers in Belgium (D1, L2).
- Three of Wales’ last four goals against Belgium in all competitions have come from forwards, with the only exception being Ashley Williams in a 3-1 Quarter-Final win at Euro 2016.
- Youri Tielemans has scored in each of Belgium’s last two home games in all competitions, opening the scoring against England and Denmark in 2020-21 UEFA Nations League A2 in November 2020.
- Just one of Wales’ last five goals have come from a striker – Kieffer Moore in a 3-1 UEFA Nations League win over Finland in November 2020.
Prediction
On paper, this feels like a loss for Wales but they come into this match unbeaten in their last five games, in which they have often pressed well on and off the ball which will be crucial here.
Belgium however look a whole different class in quality and with Kevin De Bruyne plus Youri Tielemans in form in midfield, I really can’t see them losing this despite failing to win any of their last four clashes in all competitions.
I therefore am expecting to see a proper hard contest here between two teams who will be pushing for automatic qualification, but this feels like a loss for Wales who probably need to focus on finishing runners-up in this group to give them a chance in Play-Offs.
Prediction: Belgium 2-0 Wales
Result: Belgium 3-1 Wales