Belgium vs Wales prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-06-08 18:45.
[p]Belatedly beginning the World Cup qualification (WCQ) cycle just last week, Belgium struggled to a 1-1 draw against North Macedonia in what was boss Rudi Garcia’s third game in charge (W1, D1, L1). Already six points in arrears of opponents Wales but with two games in hand, this game could have huge implications for who takes the single direct qualification spot in this group, as Belgium seek a fourth straight successful World Cup appearance. [/p]
[p]With their team unbeaten across the last three completed WCQ campaigns (W23, D5), Belgian home fans can take a lot of confidence into this fixture even despite the disappointment of their team losing two of their last three games on home soil. A visit from Wales arguably poses a lesser threat than that of Italy or France, and while Belgium have no clean sheets in six H2Hs against Wales, they’re unbeaten across the last four (W2, D2). [/p]
[p]Much like their hosts, Wales also played out a 1-1 draw against North Macedonia back in March, although a simple 3-0 win over Liechtenstein in this window sent them to the top of the standings. That extended Wales’ unbeaten start under Craig Bellamy to a stunning nine games (W5, D4). Their last three wins came with multiple-goal margins, but this represents their toughest task yet against Group J’s top-seeded side.[/p]
[p]In the face of such a potentially difficult assignment, Bellamy has refused to shy away from his attacking ethos, telling the media it’s “not in (his) make-up” to pursue defensively minded draws. When playing in a similar way during the previous WCQ cycle, Wales found themselves ahead after ten minutes in this fixture, only for a first-half collapse to lead to their only away defeat of the campaign (W2, D1, L1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Club Brugge full-back Maxim De Cuyper scored in his last two internationals under Garcia, tripling his total tally for the national team in the process. Despite losing a play-off final to Sheffield United to conclude his club season, Kieffer Moore scored his 14th international goal on Friday night and may be confident of another given that he struck in his last two games against Belgium (D1, L1). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Belgium have won 11 of their last 14 WCQ home games (D3), with nine of those wins also seeing 2+ goal margins. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]