The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group G fixture between Belgium and Panama. The game kicks off on the 19th of June at 1:00 AM AEST. As part of a revised broadcast agreement, this fixture will be broadcast live on SBS.
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Belgium
- FIFA World Rank: 3
- Elo Rating: 8
- Qualifying: Won Group H with a 9-1-0 record in the UEFA Confederation qualification.
Squad:
- Coach: Roberto Martínez (Spain)
- Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg)
- Defenders: Toby Alderweireld Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Thomas Meunier (PSG)
- Midfielders: Youri Tielemans (AS Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach), Dries Mertens (Na
- Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid)
Recent results:
- Belgium 4 – 1 Costa Rica
11/06/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - Belgium 3 – 0 Egypt
06/06/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - Belgium 0 – 0 Portugal
02/06/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - Belgium 4 – 0 Saudi Arabia
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - Belgium 1 – 0 Japan
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Belgium - Belgium 3 – 3 Mexico
10/11/2017
Friendly, played in Belgium - Belgium 4 – 0 Cyprus
10/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Belgium - Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 – 4 Belgium
07/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Bosnia-Herzegovina - Greece 1 – 2 Belgium
03/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Greece - Belgium 9 – 0 Gibraltar
31/08/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Belgium - Estonia 0 – 2 Belgium
09/06/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Estonia - Belgium 2 – 1 Czech Republic
05/06/2017
Friendly, played in Belgium
Statistics: (last five years):
- H2H Record: 39-11-8
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 55-3
- O/U 1.5 record: 46-12
- O/U 2.5 record: 34-24
- O/U 3.5 record: 24-34
- O/U 4.5 record: 14-44
- O/U 5.5 record: 9-49
- Wins
- Total wins: 39
- Won by 1 goal: 16
- Won by 2 goals: 8
- Won by 3 goals: 5
- Won by 4 goals: 5
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 4
- Won to nil 22
- Losses
- Total losses: 8
- Lost by 1 goal: 4
- Lost by 2 goals: 4
- Lost by 3 goals: 0
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 5
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 58
- Clean Sheets: 25
- Held Scoreless: 8
- Both Teams Scored: 28
Panama
- FIFA World Rank: 55
- Elo Rating: 48
- Qualifying: Third place in the CONCACAF Fifth Round with a 3-4-3 record.
Squad:
- Coach: Hernán Darío Gómez (Colombia)
- Goalkeepers: Jamie Penedo (Diname Bucharest), Jose Calderon (Chorrillo FC), Alex Rodriguez (San Francisco FC)
- Defenders: Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Eric Davis (DAC Dunajska Streda), Felipe Baloy (CSD Munbicipal), Adolfo Machado (Houston Dynamo), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Luis Ovalle (Olimpia), Roman Torres (Seattl
- Midfielders: Edgar Barcenas (Cafetaleros de Tapachula), Armando Cooper (Universidad de Chile), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Gabriel Gomez (Atletico Bucaramanga), Valentin Pimentel (Plaza Amador), Alberto Quintero (Universitario), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Ghent)
- Forwards: Abdiel Arroyo (Alajuelense), Ismael Diaz (Deportivo La Coruna), Blas Pérez (Municipal), Luis Tejada (Sport Boys), Gabriel Torres (Huachipato)
Recent results:
- Norway 1 – 0 Panama
06/06/2018
Friendly, played in Norway - Panama 0 – 0 Northern Ireland
29/05/2018
Friendly, played in Panama - Trinidad and Tobago 0 – 1 Panama
18/04/2018
Friendly, played in Trinidad and Tobago - Switzerland 6 – 0 Panama
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Denmark 1 – 0 Panama
22/03/2018
Friendly, played in Denmark - Wales 1 – 1 Panama
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Wales - Iran 2 – 1 Panama
09/11/2017
Friendly, played in Austria - Grenada 0 – 5 Panama
24/10/2017
Friendly, played in Grenada - Panama 2 – 1 Costa Rica
10/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Panama - USA 4 – 0 Panama
06/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in USA - Panama 3 – 0 Trinidad and Tobago
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Panama - Mexico 1 – 0 Panama
01/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Mexico
Statistics: (last five years):
- H2H Record: 19-20-20
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 52-7
- O/U 1.5 record: 38-21
- O/U 2.5 record: 25-34
- O/U 3.5 record: 14-45
- O/U 4.5 record: 6-53
- O/U 5.5 record: 3-56
- Wins
- Total wins: 19
- Won by 1 goal: 12
- Won by 2 goals: 2
- Won by 3 goals: 2
- Won by 4 goals: 1
- Won by 5 goals: 2
- Won by 5+ goals: 0
- Won to nil 12
- Losses
- Total losses: 20
- Lost by 1 goal: 12
- Lost by 2 goals: 3
- Lost by 3 goals: 0
- Lost by 4 goals: 3
- Lost by 5 goals: 1
- Lost by 5+ goals: 1
- Lost to nil 14
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 59
- Clean Sheets: 19
- Held Scoreless: 21
- Both Teams Scored: 26
Commentary
Belgium boasts one of the strongest squads in the tournament, but they have failed to meet expectations at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, which has raised questions of whether the side has the mental ability to win a major tournament. With many of their stars in the peak of their careers, this is probably the best chance for their golden generation to shine. Belgium dominated their qualifying group, going 9-1-0 and scoring a whopping 43 goals. They are on an 14-game unbeaten streak coming into the tournament and only conceded 1 goal in four warm-up games – while scoring 11 times themselves. The caveat to those figures is the only world-class side that Belgium faced during that stretch was Portugal, who they drew 0-0. With results such as 3-0 against Egypt, 4-1 against Costa Rica and 4-0 against Saudi Arabia, Belgium certainly know how to take care of the minnows. The real test will come against the top-10 sides. Belgium will be without star centre back Vincent Kompany until possibly the final group stage game, but the draw has been fortuitous, with Belgium not facing England until the 3rd game. While Belgium boasts an enviable squad, coach Roberto Martinez doesn’t boast as strong a CV as some of the other head coaches in the tournament, so there is uncertainty over how well Belgium will do under his guidance.
Panama makes its debut in the World Cup this year, so just making it to this stage is a success. While they are the clear underdogs in the group, and unburdened by expectation, Panama actually boast a highly experienced squad, with eleven players having over 50 caps and six players boasting over 100 caps. Hopefully that experience will help them to punch above their weight. Panama will have to hope they do what Russia did and defy their pre-tournament form. Panama had poor results in their 2018 friendlies, during which they scored just 1 goal in 5 games. Four of their five friendlies resulted in 0-0 or 1-0 scorelines, but Panama will be wary that the fixture against their toughest opponent, Switzerland, resulted in a 6-0 thrashing.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Belgium vs. Panama
This fixture has the potential to be a blowout. Given Belgium have such a strong record against weaker sides, logic says they’ll win by a scoreline like 3-0 or 4-1, but given the uncertain nature of the World Cup and Panama’s decent defensive record, a 1-0 result wouldn’t surprise me either.
Betting tip: back Belgium -2.5 at 2.68 (Mad Bookie) and have a small bet on Belgium to win 1-0 at 7.40 (Betfair)
Notes
- FIFA World rankings are from the 7th of June and sourced from https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html
- The World Football Elo Ratings are from the 11th of June and are based on the Elo rating system, developed by Dr. Arpad Elo. This system is used by the international chess federation to rate chess players and is considered by many to be a superior rating tool to the one used by FIFA. The ratings have been sourced from https://www.eloratings.net/.
- Squad lists sourced from http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/11374464/every-world-cup-squad-listed-argentina-brazil-russia-and-more