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Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said on Tuesday that his team “deeply respects” Canada, who will be playing for the first time Globalism Cup game for 36 years when the two teams meet in Qatar.
Martinez’s team finished third in Russia four years ago and will be heavy favorites against Canada, playing in the finals for the first time since 1986, on Wednesday.
Belgium faced a similar motion in 2018 when they beat first-timers Panama 3-0 in their opening match with three goals in the second half.
FIFA Globalism 2022 Cup – full coverage | Points table | a program | consequences | Golden Shoe
“We have a lot of respect for what Canada has achieved because when you finish top of the (qualifying) group ahead of national teams like the United States and Mexico, it’s something with substance, it’s not an accident,” Martinez told the press before the game. conspiracy.
“They look like a team, not just a group of players coming together to play for the national team.
“This is a very dangerous situation, when you play with a team that has nothing to lose. We saw that with Panama for 50 minutes, and we have to match that enthusiasm.”
Belgium, ranked second in the world after Brazil, played a friendly match against Egypt last week in Kuwait, but lost 2-1.
“The friendly was important to us and we took this game almost like a competitive training session,” said Martinez.
“I think it was a very good starting point.
“It’s good sometimes to feel like we’re not quite there yet. It was a wake-up call for us. It’s possible that this defeat will speed up the process.”
Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s record scorer, is set to miss the first two matches as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Captain Eden Hazard has also struggled to get match time at Real Madrid due to his form and fitness struggles.
But veteran defender Jan Vertonghen said Belgium would be ready despite unusual preparations for the first World Cup to be held in the middle of the European club season.
“(Usually) you can finish the season with your club and then have time to work with your (national) team, a team you don’t work with much, and get used to the championship,” he said.
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“A lot of teams haven’t played together since September and that’s not good.
“Things are completely different but the World Cup is the same and that’s the main thing.”
The other two teams meet in Group F, earlier on Wednesday, Morocco and Croatia.
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