Belgium opened its World Cup in Qatar with a minor victory against Canada. Roberto Martínez’s team started extremely weak and were kept going by Thibaut Courtois, who saved a penalty from Alphonso Davies. Canada could have and perhaps should have taken two more penalties, but missed Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe. Belgium hardly created anything itself. However, it proved deadly in its completion. Michy Batshuayi shot the Red Devils to victory in the 44th minute: 1-0.
At the Red Devils, Martínez stuck to the defensive duo Toby Alderweireld-Jan Vertonghen, who played for Ajax years ago. Despite his reserve role at Real Madrid, Eden Hazard remains a star player and was also in the starting line-up. On the side of Canada, Atiba Hutchinson was another former Eredivisionist to be discovered. The 39-year-old midfielder played for PSV between 2010 and 2013. The star of the Canadians is Davies. The left back of Bayern Munich plays in the national team as a left winger.
Alphonso Davies can score Canada’s first World Cup goal… and won’t. Thibaut Courtois is the hero for the Belgians. #belcan #wk2022Watch live? https://t.co/xAfpEHIqJo pic.twitter.com/j1YZzwtfWp
— NOS Football (@NOSfootball) November 23, 2022
Anyone who expected Canada to withdraw as an underdog in their own half was disappointed. The team of national coach John Herdman constantly put great pressure on Belgium’s defense in the first half. The Red Devils had a lot of problems with that and already gave away a penalty after nine minutes through a handball from Yannick Carrasco, which prevented an almost certain goal from Tajon Buchanan. Davies failed from eleven yards and saw his weak effort turned by Courtois.
Belgium also failed to play itself out under the pressure of Canada. The North Americans tried through Junior Hoilett (shot wide) and Alistair Johnston, who saw Courtois save with his fists. Seven minutes before the break, Canada demanded another penalty, when Axel Witsel stepped on Richie Laryea’s foot. After a VAR check, the referee decided it was too light for a penalty kick. Belgium suddenly took the lead in minute 44 via Batshuayi, who was suddenly launched by a beautiful long ball from Alderweireld. The broken striker shot deadly: 1-0.
The Canadians could have leveled the score before the break, but Buchanan slid the ball over after a low cross from Laryea. Dive shortly after the break the Canucks again extremely dangerous. Jonathan David should have scored, but the striker headed wide. The disappointingly playing Hazard was substituted for Belgium after an hour. With Leandro Trossard in the team, the Belgians seemed to have more control over the game. Opportunities were getting scarcer by the minute. Cyle Larin, substitute for Canada, could not surprise Courtois with a header after eighty minutes.
