Following three straight wins to open their European Championship Qualification campaign, Israel were brought back down to earth with a serious bump as Wales beat them comprehensively in Haifa on Saturday night, as Israel dropped their first points in Group B, losing 3-0. It was a far cry from their previous game where they surprised many by beating Bosnia 3-0 back in November. They still hold a relatively good position as we approach the halfway stage of this group, but Israel will know only too well how much hard work lies ahead of them. This will be the first of two games they face Belgium whilst they also have to travel to Bosnia and Wales.
After losing to Argentina in the quarter final of the World Cup last summer, Belgium’s attention turned to qualifying for the European Championships in 2016. They have had a solid if unspectacular start to their campaign, accumulating eight points from their first four games. Two resounding victories at home to Andorra and Cyprus have bookended a home draw with Wales and a share of the points away to Bosnia. They will be confident of finishing in the top two and sealing an automatic passage to France for next summer’s Championships but there remains work to do, starting with this match on Tuesday.
The manner of their performance was the most surprising aspect of Israel’s defeat to Wales. The home side looked devoid of ideas from an early stage against a resolute and disciplined Welsh team – and even though they were not helped with the first half injury to Omer Damari, or the second half sending off of Eitan Tibi – but they were always second best. They have to dust themselves down very quickly though as they face another huge test of their credentials in this match. They have only ever qualified for one major international tournament and you have to think if they lose on Tuesday it looks a very tall ask to qualify for Euro 2016.
Although their two wins in Group B have not been against the highest calibre, Marc Wilmots will be pleased that his side have shown their ruthless streak. Belgium breezed through qualification for the World Cup but one criticism that was levelled at them was their lack of goals and sometimes, negative approach. That appears to be different this time around but the manager will not want it to displace how efficient they were during that period, in which they dropped just four points en route to Brazil – the same number of points they have dropped after four points of this campaign.
Israel will certainly be smarting from their comprehensive defeat to Wales on Saturday but they should not be too disheartened after having a 100% record until then. Belgium were the favourites from the outset of Group B but they have not been at their best just yet. Due to the change in qualification for next year’s Championships, they do not have to be as dominating as they were for the World Cup but having already dropped points to Bosnia and Wales – and because other sides have shown a greater level of consistency – I feel they will want to put a marker down here and take all three points home with them. Their odds have contracted over the last couple of days and rather than bet straight up, I like the look of the Belgians to win without conceding.
Belgium to win to nil 27/20 @ Sportingbet
