The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group G fixture between Belgium and Tunisia. The game kicks off on the 23rd of June at 10:00 PM AEST. It will be broadcast live by SBS, who now have the rights to all remaining group stage matches.
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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 3 – 0 Panama
18/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - 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
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 33-8-6
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 45-2
- O/U 1.5 record: 38-9
- O/U 2.5 record: 30-17
- O/U 3.5 record: 21-26
- O/U 4.5 record: 12-35
- O/U 5.5 record: 8-39
- Wins
- Total wins: 33
- Won by 1 goal: 12
- Won by 2 goals: 6
- Won by 3 goals: 6
- Won by 4 goals: 4
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 4
- Won to nil 19
- Losses
- Total losses: 6
- Lost by 1 goal: 3
- Lost by 2 goals: 3
- Lost by 3 goals: 0
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 4
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 47
- Clean Sheets: 21
- Held Scoreless: 6
- Both Teams Scored: 22
Tunisia
- FIFA World Rank: 21
- Elo Rating: 49
- Qualifying: Won Group A with a 4-2-0 record in the CAF Third Round.
Squad:
- Coach: Nabil Maâloul
- Goalkeepers: Aymen Mathlouthi (Al Batin Saoudi/KSA), Farouk Ben Mustapha (Al Shabab Saoudi/KSA), Mouez Hassen (Chateauroux/FRA)
- Defenders: Hamdi Nagguez (Zamalek/EGY), Dylan Bronn (Ghent/BEL), Rami Bedoui (Etoile Sportive du Sahel), Yohan Benalouane (Leicester/ENG), Syam Ben Youssef (Kasimpasa/TUR), Yassine Meriah (Club Sportif Sfax), Oussama Haddadi (Dijon/FRA), Ali Maaloul (Al Ahli/EGY)
- Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri (Montpellier/FRA), Mohamed Amine Ben Amor (Al Ahly/KSA), Ghaylene Chalali (Esperance Tunis), Ferjani Sassi (Al Nasr Saoudi/KSA), Ahmed Khalil (Club Africain), Saifeddine El Khaoui (Troyes/FRA)
- Forwards: Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Al Ittifak/KSA), Anice Badri (Esperance), Bassem Srarfi (Nice/FRA), Wahbi Khazri (Rennes/FRA), Naim Sliti (Dijon/FRA), Saber Khalifa (Club Africain)
Recent results:
- Tunisia 1 – 2 England
18/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Tunisia 0 – 1 Spain
09/06/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Turkey 2 – 2 Tunisia
01/06/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Portugal 2 – 2 Tunisia
28/05/2018
Friendly, played in Portugal - Tunisia 1 – 0 Costa Rica
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in France - Tunisia 1 – 0 Iran
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Tunisia - Tunisia 0 – 0 Libya
11/11/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Tunisia - Guinea 1 – 4 Tunisia
07/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Guinea - Congo DR 2 – 2 Tunisia
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Congo DR - Tunisia 2 – 1 Congo DR
01/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Tunisia - Morocco 1 – 0 Tunisia
28/03/2017
Friendly, played in Morocco - Tunisia 0 – 1 Cameroon
24/03/2017
Friendly, played in Tunisia
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 22-16-12
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 45-5
- O/U 1.5 record: 33-17
- O/U 2.5 record: 22-28
- O/U 3.5 record: 11-39
- O/U 4.5 record: 7-43
- O/U 5.5 record: 3-47
- Wins
- Total wins: 22
- Won by 1 goal: 14
- Won by 2 goals: 3
- Won by 3 goals: 3
- Won by 4 goals: 0
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 1
- Won to nil 11
- Losses
- Total losses: 12
- Lost by 1 goal: 9
- Lost by 2 goals: 3
- Lost by 3 goals: 0
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 8
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 50
- Clean Sheets: 16
- Held Scoreless: 13
- Both Teams Scored: 26
Commentary
Belgium commenced their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Panama. Despite not getting out of second gear, the side continues to be a goal-scoring machine after averaging 4.3 goals during qualifying. Belgium also scored 11 games during their 4 friendlies, so 3-4 goals per game has become the norm. All three goals against Panama came in the second half, which extends Belgium’s World Cup streak of 11 goals in the second half with none in the first. Questions remain over Belgium’s ability to beat the best in the world, but they certainly know how to find their way past weaker opposition.
Tunisia began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to England. It took an injury-time goal for England to seal the win, but Tunisia were fortunate to receive a penalty while England had at least two genuine penalty appeals waived down and not referred to VAR. Tunisia’s only shot on target during the game was their penalty. In team news, goalkeeper Mouez Hassen has been ruled out of the tournament with the shoulder injury that forced him to leave the field against England. Farouk Ben Mustapha will likely start in his absence. Injuries continue to plague Tunisia after they lost talisman Youssef Msakni prior to the tournament. A number of other players have been fighting to return to full fitness. Tunisia are now winless (0-4-8) in their last 12 World Cup matches since beating Mexico in their first ever match in 1978. It’s hard to be optimistic about their chances against a side that is the master of seeing off weaker opponents.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Belgium vs. Tunisia
Tunisia are masters at the art of frustrating teams, but they’re up against a side with an excellent record for beating weaker opponents by wide margins. I expect Belgium will win to nil (possibly 2-0). Of their 33 wins over the last 4 years, 19 were to nil, including 5 of the last 6, while 6 of of Tunisia’s last 7 defeats were to nil. Tunisia’s only registered shot on target against England was their dubiously awarded penalty take, and they’re up against a world-class goalkeeper in Thibaut Courtois. So far this world cup, 14 of the 19 teams that won have done so so to nil. Also worth looking at is the HT/FT market, given Belgium’s propensity to score all of their goals in the second half.
Betting tip: back Belgium to win to nil at 2.00 (Ladbrokes) and consider draw/Belgium in the HT/FT market at 4.40 (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