Belgium wins but does not convince

  • Roberto Martínez’s block defeated a Canada that deserved more thanks to a goal from Batshuayi and a penalty saved by Courtois

If Belgium wants to be taken as one of the contenders for the world Cup… This is not the way. He won, yes, but no sign of that team that was third in the World Cup in Russia. She was dominated by a Canada who went home empty but with her head held high. One of the pleasant surprises despite the unfair result that distributed the three points for the Belgians.

Canada returned to a World Cup event after participating in Mexico 86′ and he did it with a staging that surprised even the most skeptical. Nobody expected such a well-worked team and that, above all, they played football so well. Nothing of direct football, the Canadians left speechless to a Belgium that remained in ‘shock‘.

He began by notifying John Herdman’s team that they had the great opportunity in the first half in Davies. A Buchanan shot was parried with the hand by Carrasco and the VAR notified the referee that in that play there was a resounding penalty. The Bayern player took responsibility but he had Thibaut Courtois in front. The Real Madrid goalkeeper guessed his intentions and Canada lost there the golden opportunity to score their first goal in history in a World Cup.

Of more less

There was a hint of recovery on the part of Belgium with a De Bruyne somewhat imprecise in decision-making but Canada did not let go of the game’s rudder. They shot 14 times in the first 45 minutes. A fact that they did not take advantage of. Quite the opposite of the selection of Robert Martinez. A millimeter long pass was enough to break the Canadian defense and for Batshuayi to put the first on the scoreboard. Unfair? A lot, but that’s how you got to rest.

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A symptom of the bad Belgian first half was the double change with which they came out in the second half. Onana and Meunier they entered by Tielemans and Carrasco. Both were charged with yellow after a few minutes.

Canada went from more to less in the second half. He quickly sought an equalizer but was still denied the goal in the face. As the pressure faded, Belgium began to suffer less, but never permanently. Courtois had to stretch to save a Larin’s spectacular header. Roberto Martínez’s men knew how to manage the last few minutes well and closed a victory in which they made little merit. But that’s football.

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