Belgium v England Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2018

Red Devils to take third place at Russia 2018

England - Belgium
England - Belgium © GEPA pictures

Belgium v England Betting Preview – World Cup 2018 14th July – 3.00 p.m

This is the game at the World Cup that no-one wants to end up in. It is a consolation battle between the two losing semi-finalists to see who finishes third and fourth respectively. Both were undone by just the one goal in their respective semi-final contests, Belgium falling against France and then England going down against Croatia a day later. We were denied a competitive clash between these two in the group stage, will this be better as they meet again? Read our Belgium v England predictions for more.

Table of Contents

Belgium News and Form

What a performance Belgium delivered to knocked Brazil out at the quarter-final stage. That should have been the platform for them from which to drive on to even bigger things. But they fell completely flat in the semi-final as they couldn’t string much of anything together against France. So once again this golden generation of Belgian players missed the mark. In that semi-final against France, Belgium created so little it was a little bit a shock really but that was all down to just how strong and well-organised France were defensive. Belgium just couldn’t find a crack. Again that does seem to be an issue with Belgium, they do struggle for consistency and are prone to producing really strange disjointed performances. But Belgium as a whole are a free-scoring side and we are going over 2.5 goals at 3/5 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July, 2018 at 6:12pm) for this game.

Belgium v England World Cup 2018 Infographic

Each of the last ten Third Place matches at World Cups have all gone above 2.5 goals. Belgium’s form is fine with a W13 D2 L1 record in their last sixteen games and their scoring at the World Cup has been fine. They just lost their long unbeaten streak of form at the wrong time. The Red Devils have scored at least two goals in six of their last eight games played and at least three in five of those six. Romelu Lukaku was brilliant against Brazil and anonymous against France but he is a 7/2 first goalscorer option for this fixture* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July, 2018 at 6:12 p.m.). Belgium are known for their attacking threat, but they do also have seven clean sheets in their last eleven games. They will have had that extra day of rest compared to England as well.

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England News and Form

So it was another case of World cup semi final heartbreak for England as they suffered a 2-1 loss against Croatia after extra time. England were supposed to be the ones with the more stamina in the game, but they faded badly after such a good first half when they were well on top and should have put the game out of reach. Once again a downfall of this England side was the lack of ability to create any chances from open play and it was another set play which got them their goal. But that set play strength is something that is working for England and so we are backing both teams to score at 8/15 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July, 2018 at 6:12 p.m.). It is likely that boss Gareth Southgate is going to freshen up his starting eleven and give a run out to some of those who have spent most of the time on the bench. So they could have some energy left in them and there is no pressure on this game at all.

England’s form is pretty solid with only the one defeate since the start of September last year, which was against Belgium in the group stage. But they have gone just W1 D2 L1 (over 90 minutes) in their last four played at the World Cup. Harry Kane hasn’t scored since his spot-kick against Colombia in the round of sixteen, but he is the anytime goalscorer favourite at 20/21 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July, 2018 at 6:12 p.m.). England haven’t done all that bad defensively really despite having collected just the one clean sheet at Russia 2018 as they have not conceded more than one goal in ninety minutes during any of their last sixteen games, so that’s a good record. England were distraught at the end of their semi-final and that is because they will know that they lost a golden opportunity to make the final of a World Cup. Can they go out, get some revenge over Belgium and go home on a high?

Belgium v England Head to Head

There was that group stage meeting at Russia 2018 between the two sides, a really odd game which neither wanted to win because doing so meant going to the top half, the more difficult section of the draw. It was reserve team v reserve team and Belgium took a 1-0 win. That snapped a three match winning streak that England were on against the Red Devils and it was just England’s second ever loss against Belgium. Overall in the head to head England are 15-2 up with the four drawn matches. England’s last three wins over Belgium have all been by a one-goal margin.

Belgium v England Betting Odds*

Belgium 6/5
England 23/10
Draw 11/4
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on 12th July, 2018 at 6:22 p.m.)

Belgium v England Predictions

We have to side with Belgium in this one. England were badly deflated at the end of their semi final against Croatia and they have been punching above their weight. Belgium have had the extra rest and they have the players who are more likely to open this game from open-play. There is value in just backing Belgium in the match outright.