Belgium

Group G: Belgium – World Cup Betting Odds & Tips

Belgium will be hoping their ‘golden generation’ can finally rise to the occasion at the 2018 World Cup as they attempt to lift the title for the first time in their history.

The Red Devils have been an emerging force in European and World football for the last five or so years with household names like Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku all establishing themselves both domestically and internationally.

Former manager Marc Wimots named all four of those players amongst plenty of other big names in his squad for the 2014 World Cup, however, it seems the tournament maybe came too soon as they were beaten 1-0 in the quarter-finals by Argentina.

Belgium were expected to prove a force to be reckoned with at Euro 2016 but they once again failed to make it beyond the last-eight with Wales prevailing in their knockout clash and Wilmots ultimately lost his job.

Roberto Martinez is now at the helm and he guided the nation through a record-breaking qualifying campaign as Belgium topped their group, picking up 28 points from 10 games, scoring 43 times in the process, while Lukaku became the countries record goalscorer.

It could be suggested that Belgium faced little in terms of competition throughout qualifying as Greece finished second, nine points shy, and a look at their recent friendly draw with Mexico could give a more balanced glance at the challenges that lie ahead in Russia.

Martinez has never previously managed at a major international competition and he will be hoping his men can get off to a positive start when they begin their campaign against debutants Panama at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on June 18.

North African nation Tunisia come up second in Group G in Moscow on June 23, at which point Martinez will be hoping to have progression guaranteed, prior to their meeting with England five days later in Kaliningrad.

Belgium, who are priced at 13.00 to win the tournament outright, will be expected to advance from the group unscathed and they will then hope to be a dangerous force in the knockout stages.