Qatar 2022 qualifiers: Czech Republic-Belgium

On the second day it is already time to fight at the top in group E for the qualifiers to Qatar 2022. The Czech Republic, after the convincing 6-2 at home to Estonia (Jankto and Barak scored, in addition to former Roma player Schick) hosts the Belgium of Lukaku and teammates, returning from a 3-1 home win against Wales thanks to goals from De Bruyne, Hazard and the Inter forward, once again infallible from the spot. The leadership of the group is therefore immediately up for grabs: it is played at the Eden Arena in Prague, kick-off scheduled for Saturday at 20.45. After this match, the two teams will close the break on Tuesday 30 March: the Czech Republic will fly to Wales, Belgium will host Belarus.

THE MOMENT

—

The Czech Republic is back from first place in their Nations League group in League B: 12 ​​points in six matches against Scotland, Slovakia and Israel. Against Estonia came the third consecutive victory in official matches for the national team coached by Jaroslav Silhavy, which, however, will now have to contend with one of the most fit teams on the world scene: Martinez’s Belgium has won sixteen of the last seventeen official matches, with the only defeat in this series against England on 11 October 2020. Obviously in the Nations League.

PREVIOUS

—

The last confrontation between the two teams is recent, but it was a friendly match: 2-1 for Belgium on 5 July 2017, in Brussels, with goals from Batshuayi, Krmencik and Fellaini. In total, the friendlies between the two nations are five: three wins for the Czech Republic, a draw and Belgium’s success in the last match. As for the direct clashes with points up for grabs, between the two national teams there are only two precedents and both to qualify for the world championships, as in the case of this year: double 1-0 success for Belgium in view of the 2002 World Cup to score were Wilmots and Verheyen.