Canada's passion not rewarded - Belgium wins happily

Created: 11/23/2022, 10:01 p.m

Belgium's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (r) saves Canadian Alphonso Davies' (M/19) penalty.

© Tom Weller/dpa

Canada made a remarkably brave showing on their return to the World Cup after 36 years but lost.

Among other things, because Bayern's Davies misses a penalty.

Al-Rajjan - Routine beats passion: Belgium's veterans gave Alphonso Davies' hapless Canadians a painful World Cup return.

Canada also lost 13,361 days after the previous World Cup game 0-1 (0-1) against the 2018 World Cup third-placed team because of a missed hand penalty by the Bayern star.

Michy Batshuayi (44th minute) from Fenerbahce Istanbul ensured Belgium's lucky eighth consecutive preliminary round win at a World Cup in Al-Rajjan.

The young, strong Canadians, on the other hand, did not reward themselves for their courageous performance and, 36 years after the last World Cup game in Mexico in 1986, remained pointless and goalless at a world tournament.

The chance of a respectable success would have been there, but Bayern's Davies put a hand penalty (10th) in the arms of Belgium's world goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The ice hockey nation made steam from the start in front of 40,432 spectators.

Full of passion, the World Cup returnees put pressure on Belgium.

The aging, still untitled Golden Generation of the Belgians found their way into the game with difficulty and were lucky with the penalty.

The Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe only recognized a clear handball from Atlético Madrid's Yannick Carrasco after the intervention of the video referee.

The poor penalty made Courtois the first Belgian keeper in 66 years to save a penalty at a World Cup.

Only after that did the favorite wake up.

Whenever ManCity's Kevin De Bruyne picked up the pace, it became dangerous.

Behind it, Real Madrid's Eden Hazard directed.

The 31-year-old captain made his twelfth World Cup appearance, although he has been in form for years and has only made three appearances in the Primera División this season.

However, Hazard justified the confidence of coach Roberto Martinez with a dedicated effort.

Nevertheless, the Belgian attacking game was still too imprecise.

Canada had significantly more shots on goal, but were also unlucky in not being awarded two more penalties for fouls.

As is so often the case, missed opportunities took revenge.

Romelu Lukaku's representative Batshuayi beat CF Montreal's Kamal Miller just before half-time and finished well to take the lead at half-time.

Belgium's Michy Batshuayi celebrates scoring a 1-0 win over Canada.

© Tom Weller/dpa

Before the game, there had been serious concerns in Belgium about Lukaku's long-term injury.

The 29-year-old striker, who has only made five appearances at Inter this season due to a stubborn muscle injury, will not be able to appear in the second group game against Morocco until Sunday at the earliest.

Despite the lead and two changes at the break - among other things, Dortmund's Thomas Meunier came to his sixth World Cup game with a face mask after breaking his cheekbone - Belgium continued to have problems against the strong Canadians.

Captain Atiba Hutchinson also impressed in defensive midfield for the North Americans.

The veteran from Besiktas Istanbul became the second oldest outfield player in World Cup history after Cameroon's Roger Milla.

Hutchinson was 39 years and 288 days old on Wednesday.

Milla was still used in 1994 at the World Cup in the USA at the age of 42.

Canadians Stephen Eustaquio (l) and Atiba Hutchinson (r) defend against Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne.

© Tom Weller/dpa

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It was also due to the presence of the veteran in midfield that there were hardly any relief attacks from Belgium.

Instead, substitute Cyle Larin (80th) had a great chance to equalize with a header, but failed at Courtois.

The favorite from Belgium brought the seventh win in a row in a World Cup opening game over time because the Canadians were also fading.

dpa