Belgium is considered as one of the strongest favorites to beat the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and the Red Devils will start the journey against Panama on Monday, June 18th, 2018, at Fisht Stadium in Sochi in the opening game of the Group G. The bookmakers favor Belgium at -715 to win this match against Los Canaleros who are set as the biggest underdogs to lift the World Cup Trophy, so the bettors will surely want to pay attention to this tilt.
Belgium vs. Panama
3-Way: 1: Belgium -715; X: +650 Draw; 2: Panama +1800 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2: Belgium -108; Panama +100
Total +2.5: Over -139; Under +106
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +225/-303
BELGIUM
The Red Devils have dominated through qualifying matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, recording nine wins and one draw with a terrific goal difference of 43:6, while eight out of their ten games had at least three goals in the total. In 2015, Belgium topped the FIFA World Rankings, and this generation of Red Devils is set as +1100 favorite to win the title in Russia with only five teams ahead of them on the favorites list. Belgium is undefeated in 17 consecutive games overall, recording 12 victories and five stalemates, so the soccer fans in Belgium hope their beloved team can go all the way this time, as Belgium mostly upset the odds on the biggest stage.
The head coach Roberto Martinez can count on plenty of world-class players, so it looks like this Belgium side doesn’t have a weak part. At the front, the powerhouse forward Romelu Lukaku will provide goals for Red Devils along with a remarkable Eden Hazard who’s arguably the most gifted individual in this team. The playmaker Kevin De Bruyne will orchestrate the play from midfield, while Axel Witsel and Mousa Dembele will be important guys in the middle of the park. At the back, Martinez has a lot of options, preferring to play with three men at the defensive line, but Vincent Kompany’s injury can corrupt his plans, as the 32-year old defender will probably miss the group stage matches.
PANAMA
Los Canaleros will have a debut at the FIFA World Cup after upsetting the odds in the qualifiers where they’ve surprisingly finished at the third spot ahead of Honduras and USA, earning a 3-4-3 record with a 9:10 goal difference, while four out of their ten matches had more than two goals on the scoreboard. They are coming to Russia as the biggest out-of-towner to beat the World Cup with odds at +100000, so even scoring a goal here will be a massive achievement for Los Canaleros. In the last four friendlies, Panama has earned one victory over Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 along with a nil-nil draw with the Northern Ireland and a couple of losses against Denmark 1-0 and Switzerland 6-0.
The manager Hernan Dario Gomez has a lot of experience at the FIFA World Cup, leading Colombia in 1998 and Ecuador in 2002, so he should know how to prepare his inexperienced boys for this tournament. It seems like Gomez is trying to play some kind of catenaccio with five at the back, as he’s well aware of his team’s flaws, knowing they will have to defend for most of the time in each game, particularly in the opener against mighty Belgium. The 34-year old Gabriel Gomez will be a key player in Panama’s midfield, while forwards Blas Perez and Luis Tejada should be the main menace in the final third.
Belgium vs. Panama – Match and Odds Breakdown
It would be a colossal upset if Belgium fails to beat Panama with at least two-goal margin, as the Red Devils are far and away better side than Los Canaleros. Four years ago in Brazil, Belgium recorded all four victories with a single-goal margin, and they should cheer up the fans with a demolition job against Panama. Hereof, betting on the spread sounds like the best choice for the bettors, as Panama needs a miracle to stop Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and others.
Likewise, betting on the totals can get some decent wages, as the markets on the Over 3 Goals are set at +125. All in all, bettors will have to beat the lines on this one, as bookmakers are aware that Belgium will undoubtedly get a victory over Panama. I suggest betting on the spread rather than beating the lines on totals, but the bettors should take a closer look at all lines and odds on BetDSI Sportsbook. Although upsets are customary at the FIFA World Cup, this one looks like an easy money as Red Devils will hold the ball on their feet and make scoring chances in sequence.
The Pick: Belgium AH -2 (-108)
