World Cup dark horses Belgium got off to a winning start with a comeback win over Algeria, while their main Group H rivals Russia stumbled to a stalemate with South Korea.
If the Russians have any shot at claiming top spot in Group H, as we tipped them to do in our World Cup predictions, then they must avoid defeat against the Belgians. Can Fabio Capello’s men keep out the young and talented Red Devils?
For more on the World Cup, check out our preview and prediction for the other key game in this group, South Korea vs. Algeria, as well as our complete World Cup coverage of every game and group. Otherwise, read on for everything you need to know about this critical Group H game.
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Belgium vs. Russia, World Cup 2014, Group Stage Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
For Belgium, a win will all but seal qualification to the next round. For Russia, a win will see them leapfrog the Belgians for top spot in the group, but a loss will put their chances of advancing to the last 16 in major doubt.
Betting on Belgium
Belgium’s much-hyped team of talented young stars was presented with a taste of adversity after Algeria took a 1-0 first half lead in their World Cup clash. Eventually, the Belgians’ advantage in quality shone through as they battled back to claim a 2-1 win.
Substitute Dries Mertens was a game-changer for Belgium with his pace on the wings. He’ll likely start against Russia, where that same pace opposite Eden Hazard can stretch a Russian defense that can prove tough to break down.
The other goal-scoring sub, Marouane Fellaini, should also get the start after his similarly strong performance. If their tricky wingers fail to provide penetration, then the brute force of Fellaini could simply overpower Russia’s defenders.
One player whose place in the starting 11 may be in question is striker Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku was abysmal against Algeria, and was rightly withdrawn at the hour mark. He should keep his place for one more game, but Belgium will need a decidedly better Lukaku to be more active and lead the forward line against Russia.
The loss of Russian captain Roman Shirokov for the World Cup due to a lingering back issue was widely expected to negatively affect the team, and his presence was definitely missed in their drab 1-1 draw against South Korea. Russia lacked the dynamism from midfield that Shirokov would’ve provided, and offered very little going forward.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Of course, it didn’t help that manager Fabio Capello opted for a very conservative starting lineup which had the attacking talents of Alan Dzagoev and Aleksandr Kerzhakov on the bench. It was no surprise that Russia only become a more threatening force when those two were introduced after Russia had gone behind. Kerzhakov scored Russia’s equalizer, his 26th career international goal.
The Russians’ chances of scoring will markedly improve with them starting, but if Capello went the conservative route against a relatively weak South Korean team, then expect his tactics against the much more dangerous Belgians to be even more defensive. The Italian manager has now drawn three of his five career World Cup games.
On the bright side though, Russia’s defensive organization was as good as advertised. South Korea hardly created a threatening chance on Igor Akinfeev’s goal, and required a horrendous blunder by the Russian ‘keeper to gift the Koreans a goal. Another howler from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev against Belgium could see the end of Russia’s World Cup dreams.
Writer’s Prediction
Belgium (-103) eventually breaks the conservative Russians’ resistance to claim another close victory.
