Belgium have been the biggest disappointment of the World Cup and now face a battle for survival in the final group stage game against Croatia.
This could be a really tactical battle with very few goals. Bookmaker William Hill has the odds at 1.73 for under 2.5 goals in the match and at 3.25 for under 1.5 goals.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: November 30th, 8:00 A.M. (EST)
The Red Devils got off to a winning start by beating Canada 1-0 but the performance showed that there is clearly something wrong with the team. They needed a Thibaut Courtois penalty save to solidify the win and got out-shot 22-9. This could’ve been a real embarrassment for the team if Canada had managed to keep their composure in front of goal.
The level of play improved in the second game against Morocco but the result was worse and it puts the team in a very bad spot. Anything else than a victory would send Belgium packing on Thursday.
You always need your big players to step up in a difficult situation and Kevin De Bruyne will definitely feel the pressure on his shoulders. He has been quiet in the tournament so far and the team badly needs him to find form Thursday. The Manchester City ace, who has registered 25 goals and 46 assists for his country in 96 appearances, should be more productive with Romelu Lukaku on the pitch.
The Inter Milan star was able to return from injury against Morocco and he could be the difference-maker Thursday if Lukaku gets enough playing time. He logged only nine minutes in his tournament debut and it’s unclear if Lukaku is ready to start. It would be great news for Belgium if he is fit to join the starting lineup as Lukeku has an immense scoring record for the team with 68 goals in 103 games.
Croatia will be under some pressure as well, but a draw would be enough to put them through to the last 16 and the situation should help them manage the game better. The 2018 finalists didn’t exactly set the world on fire in their opener either, but they played a solid defensive game and a good effort and a big win against Canada have put them in a solid position to advance.
A win on Thursday would help Croatia to tie the all-time series between the two teams. Belgium currently hold a slight lead with four wins to three in eight games. They have won the last two with Lukaku scoring all the goals. Can he be the hero again Thursday?
