World Cup 2018: Preview – Group G

2018 FIFA World Cup

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Top spot in Group G looks set to be disputed by two teams boasting gifted generations of talent.

Belgium and England will both be calling on an impressive pool of players as they each target first place and that could make life difficult for debutants Panama and a Tunisia side no doubt hoping for a kinder draw after qualifying for the first time in 12 years.

Read More: World Cup 2018: Preview – Group F

Teams

Belgium (FIFA Ranking – 3rd)

Belgium, underdogs in 2014 are now one of the favorites in 2018. They are predicted to reach the knockout stages if not go all the way to the final or even win it.

Former Wigan and Everton manager Roberto Martinez, is in charge of the Belgian Red Devils with Arsenal and France’s all-time leading goal scorer, Thierry Henry, acting as his assistant. Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku will be the key men for the Red Devils.

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Red Devils will look to come in with momentum and sufficient match practice. Having played England 21 times including twice in World Cups in 1954 & 1990 with only 2 wins and 4 draws. This might seem overwhelming and make the English favorites.

However, this Belgium side will be confident enough to get one over the English. They have met Tunisia three times including a 1-1 draw in the World Cup 2002.

Panama (FIFA Ranking – 55th)

Panama qualified for the World Cup in dramatic fashion, finishing one point ahead of the USA and beating Honduras to a spot in Russia through goal difference as the two countries were level on points.

A national holiday was called throughout the country after Panama qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history. Like Tunisia in the group, Panama would look to create an upset against England.

If they manage to beat Tunisia we could see the Central Americans reaching the knockout stages. The key men for Panama are Jaime Penedo, Roman Torres and Gabriel Torres.

This will be the first time Panama will be facing England, Belgium and Tunisia in a senior international match.

Tunisia (FIFA Ranking – 21st)

Tunisia qualified for the World Cup without losing a match. The Tunisians conceded just 4 goals in the process and beat Congo, Libya and Guinea to a spot in Russia. It was not an easy path as Congo pushed them to the limit until the last game of the group.

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Panama will be making their first ever FIFA World Cup appearance while Tunisia who are above Italy, Netherlands & Mexico…

This will be Tunisia’s fifth time at the World Cup finals but they have never progressed out of the group stage. Opening their campaign with a game against a youthful looking England the Tunisians may seek to create an upset and open the group open for a second spot.

Wahbi Khazri, Aymen Abdennour and Youssef Msakni will be the top picks for The Eagles of Carthage.

Tunisia has met both England and Belgium previously at a World Cup. 1998 they lost to England 2-0 and in 2002 they drew with Belgium 1-1. The only time Tunisia won a World Cup match was in Argentina 1978 beating Mexico 3-1.

England (FIFA Ranking – 12th)

England will be playing at their sixth consecutive World Cup this summer and will be hoping to progress past the last 16 for the first time since 2006.

England fans have suffered from serious heartbreak over the past 50 years or so but have a very talented side. The Premier League is known to be the best in the world and every single player in the England squad plays in English football’s top flight.

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Free scoring Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling & Marcus Rashford will be definite starters and will be key to English success. With a youthful looking team and a young manager in Gareth Southgate future looks bright for the English.

England holds the edge over Belgium historically. In the recent past it is the Red Devils who boast of a world class team. England has beaten Belgium 15 times in competition and friendly encounters. England also beat Tunisia in their only meeting in World Cup in 1998.

Fixtures

18th June – Belgium v Panama – 20:30 local time – Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
18th June – Tunisia v England – 23:30 local time – Volgograd Arena, Volgograd
23rd June – Belgium v Tunisia – 17:30 local time – Spartak Stadium, Moscow
24th June – England v Panama – 17:30 local time – Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
28th June – Panama v Tunisia – 23:30 local time – Mordovia Arena, Saransk
28th June – England v Belgium – 23:30 local time – Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad

Key Fixtures

28th June – England v Belgium – 23:30 local time – Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad

Belgium has been tipped for greatness for several years now, with the Red Devils possessing blistering potential in a superb crop of players.

Their golden generation is not getting any younger, however, and their fans will be hoping they can hit their promised heights at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – providing they do not stumble against a rejuvenated England team which has posted impressive results and earned widespread praise.

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Belgium are outside contenders for the title, and they are sure to serve up an engaging spectacle, particularly as many of Belgium’s key players are based in the English Premier League. Though this game is tagged as the group decider, the other two teams may have a word or two.

18th June – Tunisia v England – 23:30 local time – Volgograd Arena, Volgograd

Key game for the English as this is the first game of the competition. A lot will depend on how this game turns out. Tunisia will be hoping to topple the apple cart by beating or drawing against England. On on the other hand it will be a make or break game for England to proceed to the next stage of the competition.

Prediction

Belgium is tipped to top the group on current FIFA ranking and form. England who has lost only once in 21 meetings with Belgium will fancy their chances to beat them.

In World cups England has not lost to the Belgians. Both Panama and Tunisia are set to have fight of their own for third place however an upset is on the card, could it be Tunisia or could it be Panama. Who will be in the receiving end of the upset? Will know on 28th June.

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