Belgium beats Canada 1-0
THE CHRONICLE
and leads Group F which also includes Croatia and Morocco who drew 0-0.
The referee for the bout was Sikazwe of Zambia.
It was played at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.
The match was decided in the 44th minute by a goal from Batshuayi.
Belgium Canada
Go slowly.
With minimal effort, at the end of a match full of risks, showing off only part of the talent of their players, Belgium beat Canada thanks to a goal by Michy Batshuayi, Romelu Lukaku's replacement and held in the balance until yesterday by coach Martinez.
It was not an easy victory for the 'Red Devils' who found themselves facing a Canada that was at full speed
, but without that touch of class that only Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich's talent - seems to possess.
The Canadians took the lead firsthand when, after only 10' and after Batshuayi had shown up from the opposing defence, they had a penalty kick at their disposal, awarded by the referee for a clear hand foul by Ferreira Carrasco .
Belgium Canada
It was Davies who brought himself to the penalty spot, but goalkeeper Courtois hypnotized him, intercepting the low shot with a leap worthy of the last Champions League final in which he was the protagonist between Real Madrid's posts.
The
narrow escape did not shake the Belgians, who continued to play at a significantly lower pace than that of Canada, always against it, but lacking in ingenious intuitions
.
It is normal, in a sport where talent still gives something away, for the Belgians to find the goal: it was in the 43rd minute when Batshuayi received from the left and crossed on the opposite post to the shooting post, beating the North American goalkeeper Borjan.
Before the final the never tame Canada manages to give himself a great opportunity with Buchanan who, a stone's throw from Courtois, sends high in sliding.
Perhaps it is understood there that, for Herdman's team, it is not the evening.
Belgium Canada
In the second half, the theme of the match remained the same, with Canada attacking every area of the pitch with their heads down and Belgium, crafty, trying to keep possession of the ball, despite playing at a slower pace.
Whirlwind of substitutions, while Kevin De Bruyne rises in tone who, when the spaces get wider, becomes devastating.
He lacks a pinch of lucidity, as happened to other top players in these first crumbs of the World Cup
.
The teams stretched out a lot, the game went up in tone, Canada lost its edge and Belgium tried without finding the winning counter-attack.
In the 34th minute Larin turns his head and engages Courtois in a plastic save.
In the final for the 'Red Devils' at least three chances for as many potential goals, but the 1-0 draw remains carved in the sand of the Qatar desert and in the end it is the Canadians who bite their hands, as dynamic as you want, but with a rate limited technical.