- Belgium have conceded 1.00 goals per game away across their last five away matches.
- Their recent matches include the 3-2 defeat to Turkey.
Belgium have a touch of class that the USA lack
Belgium head into the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup unbeaten across their last ten matches in all competitions (W6, D4) while USA have won six and lost four of their ten most recent games. The head-to-head record also favours Belgium after they beat USA 5-2 in a friendly 3 months ago, so it looks like they could be the most likely winners at Seattle Stadium.
Belgium boss Rudi Garcia has his side playing with a bit of a diamond in a 4-2-3-1 system, as they patiently probe and circulate possession before picking a pocket of space and slotting a ball through. USA boss Mauricio Pochettino sets his side up in an energetic 4-2-3-1 system that is designed to cause chaos, as they press high to win the ball back and immediately break forward with pace to create chances.
While Belgium have the talent and control to see the game out, USA can certainly nick a goal and keep the scoreboard moving along. The Americans have scored five goals in their 3-2 defeat to Turkey away from home and their 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at home in their two most recent matches. In contrast, Belgium have scored 2.80 goals per away game across their last five matches and have conceded an average of 1.00 goals in the process.
Over 2.5 goals looks likely
This is a matchup of contrasting styles, as Belgium want to play patient possession-based football and USA want to get the ball and get it forward as quickly as possible. We're expecting Belgium's quality and control to tell on Tuesday, but we believe that USA can pinch a goal and give this game a little more life than a cagey affair.
Over 2.5 goals is priced up at 1.79 for this FIFA World Cup knockout game and we think that both teams can register with some regularity, so we're also going for Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.57. Belgium to win 2-1 or 3-1 looks a good option in the correct score market.
Balogun to score anytime stands out as the clear choice in the anytime goalscorer market as Folarin Balogun has scored one goal in one match in this FIFA World Cup and is USA's sharpest finisher in transition. Belgium have their own in-form finisher in Youri Tielemans, who has scored two goals in one match in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, while he is the one who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
