Both Spain and Belgium are stepping into the FIFA World Cup quarter finals after somewhat dramatic games.
Belgium was fuming at the fact that the USMNT got an arguably free pass after a red card (an unheard event) with the player restored, and Spain fought tooth and nail to eliminate Portugal (as it has many World Cups before). Now, Spain is tipped to take out the Red Devils, but we think these expectations may be misplaced.
Spain vs Belgium Odds
| Moneyline | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spain to Advance | -345 |
| Belgium to Advance | +290 |
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Spain vs Belgium Date, Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, July 10
- Time: 12 pm local time
- Place: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California
- Where to Watch: FOX, FOX One, Fubo TV
Belgium Set to Upset Spain in the Quarterfinals
While we may argue that Spain has been the more capable team of the two, the truth is that Belgium’s recent form has indicated that the squad is capable of exceeding expectations. With both European teams set to clash in the finals, Spain is clearly the favorite at (-345), but oddsmakers may be mispricing Belgium at (+290), and this is precisely what we will argue.
Belgium’s win over the United States was a telling example of what the team has become over the past several games, putting behind itself any hesitance of the former games, and playing a more conservative game in terms of ball possession, but making its time count.
Charles de Ketelaere shone against USMNT, but he also burnished his credentials as one of the team’s most capable strikes that Spain will have to expand resources to pin down. But Belgium is not overrelying on a single player either, with Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku both contributing to the team’s offensive.
The team also was able to maintain an explosive pace of play against the United States and punished mistakes dearly, resulting in 4 goals out of 7 shots on target – an excellent conversion rate, akin to what Argentina has been doing recently.
Bolstered by the recent results, Belgium is unlikely to slow down and while Spain will introduce a far more challenging dynamic, the team has a very good chance of advancing.
Spain, the European Vanguard that Strives to Another World Cup
For its part, Spain has not had the strongest showing at this tournament in terms of pure goals scored, which is precisely why we think the Spaniards may struggle to do away with the Red Devils.
Spain is definitely a talented squad, and its game versus an equally powerful rival in the Round of 16, Portugal, demonstrated how well Spain can address one of the strongest squads in the world.
But will this be enough? Out of six shots on target, Spain converted only one into a goal, but this may as well have to do with Portugal’s own goalie and defensive backline and the situations provided to the Spaniards strikers.
Still, Spain has been playing a slower, more tactical game that has rarely resulted in more significant gains score-wise. This is why we believe that Belgium’s current momentum could allow it to actually secure a historic win.
Pick: Belgium to Win (+290)