Life can be so cruel! Just look at the Canadian football team, that lost to Belgium 1-0 in their opening World Cup game on Wednesday night. Their staggering display against one of the best teams in the world – and the title contenders – ended up in a dreadful defeat. And it should have been totally different.Shots: Belgium 4-14 Canada Goals: Belgium 1-0 Canada pic.twitter.com/J4FRGiYFyT— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 23, 2022 From kick-off till the end, the Maple Leafs showed us why football is a lovely, dynamic, and exciting sport. They exchanged passes and positions on the pitch with such extravagance that star-studded Belgium occasionally seemed like a bunch of amateurs. Yes, those very Red Devils with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Axel Witsel and Thibaut Courtois. The last one, Real Madrid’s keeper, deserves the credit for saving his side with a superb first-half penalty save that prevented Alphonso Davies from scoring the opener.🧤SAVE!Thibaut Courtois denies Alphonso Davies from the penalty spot 🇧🇪#BEL | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/hC8OdEVw4b— Fast Footy Goals (@fast_footygoals) November 23, 2022 Besides that fantastic opportunity, the Maple Leafs had at least a dozen more goal-scoring chances but lacked patience and routine in the final third.Roberto Martinez’s army was trembling, faced with Canada’s infinite attacks, close and long-range efforts that made Courtois night work much harder than he could have possibly imagined. But that’s the catch – Belgium veterans are used to games like these. And know exactly when is the perfect time to fight back! They did it through Michy Batshuayi in the dying minutes of the first half, punishing Canadians for maybe the first and probably only defensive mistake for the entire 90 minutes.Even after the teams returned from the interval, the game’s relief stayed pretty much the same, and the result, too.All in all, although they lost the fixture in which they dominated from the start until the end, Canadians have many reasons to be proud of themselves. And to improve both in terms of finishing and result, in general, in the upcoming two games against Croatia and Morocco.Yes, that should have been a penalty for Canada against Belgium after a clear trip from Witsel pic.twitter.com/4vCUJvoo90— Has the Referee or VAR made a poor decision? (@PoorEPLreferees) November 23, 2022 Also, it needs to be said that the referee, emblematic Janny Sikazwe from Zambia, deserves nothing but severe criticism for his decisions throughout the match. Albeit he did reward Canada with a penalty, he should have done the same on two other occasions, too.Sikazwe suffered sunstroke and is sent home, Tunisia appeal rejectedThere were a couple more highly questionable calls from the ref known for his notorious AFCON refereeing earlier this year when he blew the final whistle long before the 90th minute.QATAR 2022 WORLD CUPSundayQatar – Ecuador 0-2 (0-2)/Valencia 16 pen, 31/MondayEngland – Iran 6-2 (3-0)/Bellingham 35, Saka 43, 62, Sterling 45+1, Rashford 71, Grealish 90 – Taremi 65, 90+12 p/Senegal – Netherlands 0-2 (0-0)/Gakpo 84, Klaassen 90+9/USA – Wales 1-1 (1-0)/Weah 36, Bale 82 pen/Tuesday, Nov 22ndArgentina – Saudi Arabia 1-2 (1-0)/Messi 10 pen – Al Shehri 48, Al Dawsari 53/Denmark – Tunisia 0-0Mexico – Poland 0-0France – Australia 4-1 (2-1)/Rabiot 27, Giroud 32, 71, Mbappe 68 – Goodwin 9/Wednesday, Nov 23rdMorocco – Croatia 0-0Germany – Japan 1-2 (1-0)/Gundogan 33 pen – Doan 75, Asano 83/Spain – Costa Rica 7-0 (3-0)/Olmo 11, Asensio 21, Torres 31 pen, 54, Gavi 74, Soler 89, Morata 90+3/Belgium – Canada 1-0 (1-0)/Batshuayi 44/Thursday, Nov 24th13:00: (1.75) Switzerland (3.45) Cameroon (5.20) G16:00: (1.80) Uruguay (3.40) S.Korea (4.90) H19:00: (1.43) Portugal (4.20) Ghana (8.50) H22:00: (1.48) Brazil (4.20) Serbia (7.25) GFriday, Nov 25th13:00: (2.25) Wales (3.05) Iran (3.60) B16:00: (3.80) Qatar (3.10) Senegal (2.15) A19:00: (1.65) Netherlands (3.80) Ecuador (5.50) A22:00: (1.65) England (3.70) USA (5.70) BSaturday, Nov 26th13:00: (2.90) Tunisia (3.00) Australia (2.65) D16:00: (1.63) Poland (3.80) Saudi Arabia (5.70) C19:00: (2.00) France (3.40) Denmark (3.90) D22:00: (1.62) Argentina (3.70) Mexico (6.00) CSunday, Nov 27th13:00: (1.85) Japan (3.40) Costa Rica (4.60) E16:00: (1.55) Belgium (4.00) Morocco (6.25) F19:00: (1.80) Croatia (3.50) Canada (4.70) F22:00: (2.60) Spain (3.25) Germany (2.75) EMonday, Nov 28th13:00: (4.20) Cameroon (3.35) Serbia (1.95) G16:00: (2.55) S.Korea (2.95) Ghana (3.05) H19:00: (1.50) Brazil (4.10) Switzerland (7.00) G22:00: (2.10) Portugal (3.20) Uruguay (3.80) HTuesday, Nov 29th18:00: (1.30) Netherlands (5.20) Qatar (11.0) A18:00: (2.80) Ecuador (3.10) Senegal (2.65) A22:00: (6.00) Wales (3.80) England (1.60) B22:00: (3.60) Iran (3.35) USA (2.10) BWednesday, Nov 30th18:00: (10.0) Tunisia (5.00) France (1.33) D18:00: (7.00) Australia (3.60) Denmark (1.58) D22:00: (5.20) Poland (3.70) Argentina (1.70) C22:00: (5.70) Saudi Arabia (3.80) Mexico (1.63) CThursday, Dec 1st18:00: (3.80) Croatia (3.45) Belgium (2.00) F18:00: (3.45) Canada (3.15) Morocco (2.25) F22:00: (8.50) Japan (4.80) Spain (1.37) E22:00: (12.0) Costa Rica (6.50) Germany (1.23) EFriday, Dec 2nd18:00: (8.00) S.Korea (4.50) Portugal (1.42) H18:00: (4.80) Ghana (3.45) Uruguay (1.80) H22:00: (11.0) Cameroon (5.20) Brazil (1.30) G22:00: (2.60) Serbia (3.40) Switzerland (2.70) G***odds are subject to change***
