Here at Bet777.be, we’ve previewed the upcoming international friendlies and provided our top football predictions, and we also have the best live betting, as FIFA’s number one ranked team travel to Ireland before hosting Burkina Faso. Check out Bet777.be’s football betting page for the best live odds.
Belgium’s preparation for the 2022 World Cup starts here, as they look to go one step further than their 2018 semi-final exit in Qatar this year. The disappointment of a Euro 2020 defeat at the hands of eventual champions Italy has been followed up by some mixed results. Despite winning four of their remaining five World Cup qualifiers, Roberto Martinez’ side were beaten by both France and Italy in the Nations League.
Ireland vs Belgium Football Prediction
Although they managed to avoid defeat in their final five World Cup qualifiers, Ireland’s journey finished with a third place finish in a tough group. They will welcome Belgium to Dublin in good form, having lost just once in their last 10 games, and knowing that the visitors have never beaten them in Ireland.
The last time these two met was in the 2016 Euros, when Romelu Lukaku scored a brace to put a huge dent in Ireland’s chances of progressing to the latter stages. Martinez will likely field a rotated outfit in Dublin, with the Spaniard confirming that Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Lukaku would all be rested for the friendlies in order to give opportunities to some emerging talent.
Belgium have lost just twice on the road since 2018, and even with an experimental squad, they will be massive favourites in the football predictions and football betting odds with Bet777.be. It is no secret that Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ is coming towards the end of an era, with plenty of ageing stars playing key roles over the last few years. It is therefore no surprise that Martinez is looking towards the future, with some of Belgium’s older heads likely to play their final international tournament in Qatar.
There are many promising Belgian prospects spread around Europe, as well as homegrown talent excelling in the Pro League. They face a difficult task ahead as they travel to Dublin, but at football odds of 10/19, the visitors are clearly favourites in the football predictions to emerge as victors over the Irish.
Football Prediction: Belgium
Belgium vs Burkina Faso Football Prediction
Belgium’s second fixture of the international break will see them host a Burkina Faso side looking to bounce back after the heartbreak of their semi-final African Cup of Nations defeat to Senegal. They showed glimpses of real quality in the tournament, with Bertrand Traore and Dango Ouattara catching the eye, but they were outclassed by eventual winners Senegal before losing to hosts Cameroon in a third place play-off.
Martinez’ side will of course be expected to dominate against the visitors, and our football prediction is a comfortable win for the hosts. The Red Devils will be without some key players from the last decade, but call-ups for thriving Pro League trio Dante Vanzeir, Charles De Ketelaere and Yari Verschaeren suggest a move in the right direction for Belgian football. Keep an eye on the live odds for Vanzeir to find the net – he has impressed in front of goal for Pro League leaders Union St. Gilloise.
We expect some of the nation’s finest upcoming talent to have a breakthrough year in 2022. Impressing in the upcoming friendlies and Nations League would ask questions of Martinez when it comes to picking his final World Cup squad. Belgium shouldn’t have too many problems winning both of these fixtures, but winning isn’t necessarily the most important thing. It’s crucial that they look towards the future to ensure the success of Belgium on the international stage for years to come.
Football Prediction: Belgium
Check out our football betting page at Bet777.be for the best football odds and live odds on Belgium.