45
20:49
Canada does not reward itself! Again Laryea can prevail on the right side and brings a low cross to the six-yard box. Buchanan is one step ahead of his opponents and slides into the ball. His five-yard shot just needs to hit the box, but he flops on his back and gets the ball over the bar.
45
20:48
Belgium’s goal isn’t really deserved, but the Canadians haven’t been able to convert their chances into countable ones either. This puts the Belgians 1-0 up just before the break. The goal is of course particularly bitter for the Canadians so close to the break.
45
20:46
Official injury time (minutes): 5
44
20:44
Tooor for Belgium, 1-0 through Michy Batshuayi
The Belgians take the lead! De Bruyne just needs a moment. He drops between the chains and plays a wide ball from his own half into Batshuayi’s feet. The attacker only has the keeper in front of him and can complete an ice-cold shot into the right corner from seven yards out.
43
20:44
Shortly before the break, the Canucks continue to constantly attack the ball-carrying player. Normally they don’t keep up the strength for more than 90 minutes, but so far the Canadians don’t seem to be running out of strength.
41
20:42
From time to time the Reds approach the box of the Canadians, but then they don’t seem compelling enough. Kevin De Bruyne is completely out of the game. The Manchester City midfield star has the fewest touches on the pitch, with eight touches.
38
20:40
There is another controversial scene in the sixteen. Richie Laryea can prevail in dribbling and goes into the penalty area from the right. On the one hand, Witsel pulls up, which is not enough. The pictures show a contact on the foot. After a quick check, the VAR decides against a second penalty.
36
20:37
Belgium just doesn’t come into the game. They’re now trying to focus more on defending and hoping for counterattacks. That’s not usually how a favorite plays.
33
20:34
Again Davies is able to assert himself in midfield and brings down Vertonghen like a log. In the center he picks up Eustáquio, who finds David in the box with a cross from the right half-field. The cross is set a little too high, which means that David cannot place the header on the box from eight meters.
30
20:32
Courtois must parry! When the Canucks come into play, the deficits in the Belgian defense become apparent. Johnston plays a one-two with Buchanan and goes for the penalty area. He tries to let himself fall, but the whistle is rightly missing. The right-back is right back and is used as a passing station. From 14 meters he pulls into the long corner. Courtois has to stretch out and punch the ball away.
27
20:28
A lively back and forth develops. Davies picks up the pace and becomes unstoppable as a result. With a double step-over he gets rid of two opponents and then hands over to Hutchinson on the sixteen. The captain chooses the conclusion from 22 meters. However, he twists his right foot and the ball clearly misses the goal.
25
20:26
The attacking game of the Belgians is gaining momentum. The courageous approach of the Canadians creates spaces that can now be better used by the Red Devils’ midfield. This creates more and more space for De Bruyne, Hazard and Co.
23
20:25
Belgium also gets its first real opportunity. Hazard takes a wide ball fantastically on the left and goes into the sixteen. He lays down on Tielemans, who shows overview and serves Batshuayi in the sixteen. From seven meters the attacker is disturbed just as decisively by Vitoria and slams the ball over the crossbar.
22
20:23
On the sidelines, Roberto Martínez is anything but happy. He gestures wildly and yells instructions across the field. His players are obviously not yet able to implement what has been planned.
19
20:20
At this stage, Belgium can bring some calm into play. They let the ball roll, but the Canadians run tirelessly. The Canadians seem to have a lot planned today.
16
20:18
Junior Hoilett lands a wide ball in the opponent’s sixteen and goes one-on-one against Alderweireld. From 13 meters half-right position he chooses the end half from the turn. His shot is not without danger and is just a meter wide of the left post. The Belgians need to wake up slowly.
15
20:16
The Red Devils are very hectic in the early stages and let the Canadians put pressure on them. The missed penalty doesn’t seem to have set the Canucks back, who continue to play very well.
13.
20:15
It’s an incredibly entertaining early stage. Canada is clearly the better team here! This time it goes via Hoilett on the left side. Buchanan, who wants to head back from the baseline, finds his cross. Alderweireld intervenes, but clears straight into David’s feet. The Canadian pulls from twelve meters, but his shot is blocked. After that, Buchanan is ruled offside.
11.
20:11
Penalty missed by Alphonso Davies, Canada
Alphonso Davies takes charge and chooses the left corner. The penalty was shot poorly and Thibaut Courtois guessed the right corner. He parries and lets the ball ricochet forward. David wants to follow up, but hits the ball under pressure from ten meters over the box.
9.
20:10
Yellow card for Yannick Carrasco (Belgium)
The Belgian received a yellow card for this obvious hand ball.
8th.
20:09
A punishable handball in the sixteen is checked! Buchanan can accept the ball in the sixteen after the following corner kick and closes it. He shoots Carrasco in the hand, who clearly has his arm out. The referee looks at the whole thing and logically decides on a penalty!
7.
20:08
The Canadians put pressure on the right side. Buchanan dribbles through and walks down the line. At the level of the sixteen he brings in a cross and finds David. The attacker settles behind Witsel and comes to an end seven meters from the goal. However, he shoots at the opponent and the ball goes deflected into the goal.
4.
20:05
Canada starts boldly here too. They push the Belgians into their own half at the start. Davies starts a little more defensively than expected, but can always be active in attack thanks to his speed.
2.
20:03
Michy Batshuayi comes straight to a first conclusion. Hoilett plays a pass straight into the Belgian attacker’s feet. Batshuayi doesn’t hesitate and shoots from 23 meters. His finish is slightly deflected, but it hits the box centrally and is therefore not a problem for Borjan.
1.
20:01
The ball rolls and the Canadians clad in white clink glasses. The Belgians in their traditional red shirts run straight up.
19:55
Led by today’s referee, Janny Sikazwe from Zambia, the protagonists enter the field. The national anthems sound and it can start right away. In Group F, the Belgians’ golden generation meets underdogs from Canada. Will the Belgians, who are second in the world rankings, use what appears to be their last chance to win a major title with these players, or can the Canadians upset them in their first World Cup game in 36 years? We’ll find out soon. We look forward to an exciting encounter.
19:45
There is no big surprise in either lineup. Lukaku, on the Belgian side, is still injured and will miss the first two group games. Michy Batshuayi, the ex-Dortmunder, takes over as a striker. For the Canadians it wasn’t entirely clear whether Davies would start, but the line-ups show that the left-back is starting this World Cup from the start today.
19:36
In the first group game in Group F, Morocco and Croatia parted with a goalless draw. This means that the winner of this match would create the perfect conditions for the rest of the group phase and jump to the top of the table for the time being. In the event of a defeat, on the other hand, you would be under pressure in the second group game.
19:27
The Belgians have also won two of their last four games. Recently, the Red Devils lost twice. First, the Belgians failed 1-0 against the Netherlands in the last group game of the Nations League, then they lost 2-1 to Egypt in the friendly. Nevertheless, with this quality, it shouldn’t be a problem for the players from Belgium to switch to competitive mode at the right moment.
19:18
The preparation went quite well for the Canadians. The Canucks have won two of their last four games. Among other things, against the host country Qatar (2-0) and against the Japanese national team (2-1), who, as we know, beat the German national team 2-1 this afternoon.
19:10
A tricky task awaits the Belgians right at the start. The Canadian team has developed strongly in recent years and has qualified for a World Cup for the second time in its history after 1986. The Canucks secured a sovereign advance against teams like Mexico or the USA in the World Cup qualifier. Well-known players are now in the ranks of the Canadians. For example Jonathan David (LOSC Lille), or of course Alphonso Davies (FC Bayern), who is available for the start of the World Cup after recovering from his injury. The Canadians certainly have the quality to shock the favorites at the start of the World Cup today.
18:57
An exciting encounter awaits us this Wednesday evening. Belgium has always been one of the favorites for several tournaments. The Red Devils have a fantastic squad and have progressed through the last four major international tournaments with this team to the round of 16. There is a mix of veterans and young talents around star player Kevin De Bruyne who, with the right attitude, could also go far in this tournament. At the World Cup in Russia 2018, the Belgians failed in the semi-finals against eventual tournament winners France. Head coach Roberto Martínez’s team is set to go even further in this World Cup.
18:51
Hello and welcome to the conclusion of day four of the World Cup in Qatar. In Group F, Belgium meets Canada at 20:00. The live ticker for this match starts right before the kick-off.