Czech Republic Vs Belgium
Czech Republic Vs Belgium Saturday, 27th March 2021 – 19:45 (Sky Sports)
World Cup Qualifier
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 25th March 2021)
Preview: After putting on a scoring clinic in their opening World Cup qualifier, the Czech Republic are out to protect top spot in Group E against the side most likely to usurp them. Will the best team in international football right now, Belgium, assert dominance inside Sinobo Stadium?
World Cup Qualifying Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Czech Republic – Soucek remains solid value?
Tomas Soucek has been in outstanding form at club level this season, contributing nine goals in 32 appearances for West Ham, but transferred this on to the international stage on Wednesday with a hat-trick in the Czech Republic’s opening World Cup qualifier in Group E. The all-action midfielder had previously scored four times in 30 senior caps, meaning he almost doubled his overall tally in their 6-2 win in Estonia.
The issue now for Soucek is that many of those who are expected to line up against him in Prague know all about his all-round threat from their clashes in the Premier League. Nevertheless, odds of 6/1 about him adding to his tally are more than reasonable about a player whose aerial threat is difficult to contend with even for the initiated. Confidence will also be seeping throughout the entire team.
The Czechs are bidding to record four successive victories for the first time in more than three years, having rounded off 2020 with back-to-back to nil wins here in Prague against Israel and Slovakia. However, those clean sheets were something of a rarity: they had previously conceded in ten straight matches. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been a drawn encounter with any side in their last 35 games (W20 L15).
Belgium – Can they make it six straight wins?
The world’s number one ranked international side provided a glimpse of why they are so highly rated at this moment in time, showing great composure to defy an early setback in their opening match of this group when powering back to beat Wales 3-1 in Belgium on Wednesday. Kevin de Bruyne sparked the comeback, while it was Romelu Lukaku who sealed all three points with a second half penalty.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has now seen his team register five consecutive victories – a relatively modest feat bearing in mind he recently oversaw a run of twelve straight wins between March 2019 to September 2020. Moreover, the Red Devils have won the last ten World Cup Qualifiers as the away side, netting the opening goal inside the first 25 minutes of the contest in their last six competitive away fixtures.
So we can expect a rapid start in the Czech capital this Saturday. It would be a huge surprise if they were pegged back too. Since the start of 2019, only two of nineteen opponents successfully prevented Belgium from winning. Meanwhile, only England, who fought back from conceding to a first-half Romelu Lukaku penalty at Wembley last October, went one further and actually beat them.
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Czech Republic Vs Belgium Betting Advice
The Czechs have found a bit of form and come into what is a daunting contest for most with enough belief to suggest they can make a fist of it on Saturday. Of course, they are up against this formidable Belgian side who seldom fail to win these days, however, there have been one or two slight chinks in the their armoury. None more so than defensively, an area which is looking increasingly vulnerable.
Czech Republic Vs Belgium – Key Facts:
- Both teams begun qualifying on a winning note. Czech Republic scoring six in a 6-2 victory away to Estonia as Belgium came from behind to defeat Wales 3-1 at home.
- The Czech Republic have scored at least one goal in their last 16 home internationals, while their last draw in any fixture, at any venue, came in June 2017 (W20 L15 since).
- Belgium boast 17 wins in 19 fixtures since the start of 2019. They’ve scored the opening goal inside the first 25 minutes in each of the last six competitive away matches (W5 D1).
In their last eleven matches, Belgium conceded in nine, although only Denmark and England could breach them on more than one occasion. Away from home the Belgians have conceded in three of their last four. This leads me to believe that the Czech Republic, seeking a fourth successive win having scored in all of their last sixteen encounters as hosts, could find some joy at their Sinobo Stadium.
Best Betting Odds – Czech Republic Vs Belgium
Czech Republic – 9/2 (BetVictor)
Draw – 3/1 (Bet365)
Belgium – 8/13 (Betway)
