Belgium vs Greece
For a team ranked fifth in the world, the Belgium national side should really win more football games than it does.
That may seem churlish given the team currently tops its World Cup qualifying group with a 100 per cent record and is favourites with virtually all betting websites to reach next summer’s tournament with a bit to spare.
However, if you put the betting odds to one side – and we’ll look at those more closely in a moment – the current crop of Belgian footballers have massively underachieved.
Their Euro 2016 exit to Wales last summer cost Marc Wilmots his job with then recently sacked Everton boss Roberto Martinez his surprise replacement.
As Wilmots now prepare to take charge of the Ivory Coast, Martinez can do little more than the four straight qualifying wins he has presided over.
Yet the jury remains out on whether he can take them any further than Wilmots.
Should they qualify as expected, the real test will be in Russia 2018 as arguably the finest set of Belgian footballers try and live up to their reputation.
With a respectful nod to a few of the European heavyweights, where else in Europe can a national team boast talents such as Eden Hazard (who will miss the Greece match with a calf injury), Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany (when fit), Jan Vertonghen, Kevin de Bruyne, Radja Nainggolan, Yannick, Carrasco, Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku – considered by Martinez as potentially the best number nine in Europe.
And I’ve left three of four other familiar names out of that line-up which shows why Belgium now rightly expect.
Assisted by Thierry Henry, Martinez has the challenge of changing the mindset and mentality of a nation which has usually been among the outsiders.
Is he the right man?
Only time will tell but, in a group containing the likes of Greece, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Bosnia, Martinez will not be fully tested tactically until World Cup qualifying is complete.
For now then a chance to really flex the muscles against opponents ranked 46th in the world.
With Asian Handicap strongly favouring a home win in Brussels – -1.75 Belgium @ 2.28 and 1X2 Belgium @ 1.29 – the more lucrative pay-outs will come if you punt on a 1×2 Draw @ 5.00 and the unlikely prospect of 1X2 Greece @ 9.00.
Stranger things have happened of course, but, in truth, not too many!
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
