Belgium vs Panama Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

It’s crunch time for Belgium, and it’s time for their golden generation to finally step up to the plate and make good of their potential. Their squad is filled to the brim with world class talent, and the vast majority of them are in the prime of their careers right now.

They certainly come into the tournament as strong contenders, favourites to top Group G ahead of England and harbouring the confidence brought by an unbeaten streak that’s nearly two years long.

Belgium’s last defeat came to Spain just a couple of months after Euro 2016 ended, and it remains Roberto Martinez’ only loss as manager of Belgium. They have won 14 of their 19 games since then, and they will be expecting to make it 15 on Monday.

Panama are World Cup debutants this year, with a shock win over Costa Rica in October seeing them defy the odds to qualify for this tournament. It’s understandable why they were always considered outsiders as well; They don’t have a single player in their squad that plays in one of Europe’s top divisions.

This deficit in raw talent makes them favourites to finish bottom of the group, and they don’t even have a run of good form to look back on. They lost to Norway earlier in June to make it one win, two draws, and four defeats from their last seven games. These defeats came against Iran, Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway.

The most worrying is their 6-0 battering at the hands of Switzerland in March, because they’re now coming up against a Belgium side who don’t tend to go easy on sides. Martinez’ side scored a huge 43 goals in qualifying, including putting 15 past Gibraltar in their two matches against the minnows. They added eight against Estonia at home, and since qualifying ended they have scored four against Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, and Costa Rica.

Belgium are not a team who sit back after getting the lead, and this could all go very wrong for Panama. Their opponents have scored at least three goals in 13 of their 20 matches under Roberto Martinez, winning by at least a three goal margin on nine occasions. This makes backing a Belgium Over 2.5 Team Goals bet look good value, along with a Belgium -2 Handicap Win and a 3-0 correct score predictions.

Romelu Lukaku should have a field day as well. The Manchester United striker is known to punish weaker opposition, and has scored a huge 13 goals in his last ten appearances for Belgium. Backing him to find the net looks like the pick of the bunch for the anytime goalscorer market.

Belgium Predicted Lineup: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Carrasco, Witsel, De Bruyne, Hazard, Mertens, Lukaku

Panama Predicted Lineup: Penedo, Machado, Escobar, Baloy, Davis, Gomez, Barcenas, Godoy, Cooper, Rodriguez, Tejada