Although Belgium no longer possess the same golden generation that finished third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Red Devils remain one of Europe’s strongest national teams. They progressed comfortably through qualification and have carried that momentum into their World Cup preparations.Belgium’s recent form has been particularly impressive, highlighted by a 2-0 victory over Croatia and a dominant 5-0 win against Tunisia.
Their opening Group G match comes against Egypt, a side that has historically enjoyed success against Belgium. In four previous meetings, Egypt have won three times, while Belgium have managed just one victory.However, current form suggests a different story.
Egypt enter the tournament after a disappointing run of results. They closed their pre-World Cup preparations with a 2-1 defeat to Brazil and were unable to progress beyond the AFCON semifinals, losing to Senegal before falling to Nigeria in the third-place playoff on penalties.
Furthermore, Egypt have lost each of their last three encounters against European opposition, raising concerns about their ability to compete with elite teams from the continent.
Recent Form
Belgium
- Won last 2 matches
- Defeated Croatia 2-0
- Defeated Tunisia 5-0
- Scored 20 goals in last 4 matches
Egypt
- Lost to Brazil in latest friendly
- AFCON semifinal exit
- Lost to Nigeria in the third-place playoff
- Lost last 3 matches against European opponents
Team News
Belgium
Belgium report no major injury concerns and are expected to field their strongest available lineup.
Egypt
Egypt also have a full squad available for selection.
Predicted Lineups
Belgium
Thibaut Courtois; Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Theate, Castagne; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Kevin De Bruyne; Jérémy Doku, Leandro Trossard; Charles De Ketelaere.
Egypt
Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Abdelmonem, Ahmed Fatouh; Marawan Attia, Mohanad Lasheen; Mohamed Salah, Ashour, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet; Omar Marmoush.
Betting Analysis
Asian Handicap: Belgium -0.75
The three-quarter-goal handicap looks achievable given Belgium’s current form.
The Red Devils have won their last two matches by comfortable margins and have been scoring freely. Egypt, meanwhile, have shown signs of inconsistency and have struggled against European opposition.
Belgium’s superior depth and attacking quality should prove decisive.
Pick: Belgium -0.75
Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals
Belgium have scored 20 goals across their last four matches, averaging five goals per game.
Egypt’s most recent match produced three goals, while each of the last three meetings between these teams has featured at least three goals.
With attacking stars on both sides, the over appears attractive.
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Cards Market
Recent disciplinary trends suggest a competitive and physical contest.
- Belgium’s last two matches produced 12 yellow cards and 1 red card.
- 3 of Egypt’s last 5 matches featured at least 4 cards.
- The most recent meeting between these nations saw 5 cards shown.
Pick: Over 4 Total Cards
Expert Prediction
Recommended Bets
- Belgium -0.75 Asian Handicap
- Over 2.5 Goals
- Over 4 Total Cards
Predicted Score
Belgium 2-1 Egypt