Prediction: Belgium vs Azerbaijan

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Betfair

Belgium, having already secured their place in the Euro 2024 finals, may opt to use Sunday’s final Group F fixture against Azerbaijan at King Baudouin Stadium as an opportunity to experiment and possibly rotate their squad.

The Red Devils had a successful friendly against Serbia earlier this week and might look to build on that momentum. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan managed to surprise Sweden in Baku but, despite their victory, they are no longer in contention for further advancement in the group.

Belgium

Belgium had a successful return to action after the abandoned game against Sweden in October. Yannick Carrasco’s early goal secured a victory against Serbia, extending Belgium’s unbeaten streak to nine matches across all competitions.

The match against Sweden in October was halted due to tragic events in Brussels, and the two teams were awarded one point each. However, Belgium had already secured their place in the European Championship finals with an impressive record of five wins and a draw from their initial six games in the qualifiers.

With their Euro 2024 qualification assured, Belgium now looks ahead to their final qualifier against Azerbaijan. In the previous encounter between these two teams, Belgium secured a 1-0 win with Carrasco scoring the decisive goal.

As they close their qualifying campaign, Belgium will be eager to focus on the upcoming Euros, aiming to secure a trophy and end their trophy drought despite their previous near misses.

Team News

Belgium’s manager, Domenico Tedesco, is likely to reintroduce Romelu Lukaku, their star striker and all-time top scorer, for the upcoming fixture. Lukaku has an impressive record in European Championship qualifying matches, having scored 23 goals from 33 appearances.

However, key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois continue to miss out due to injuries. Additionally, Charles De Ketelaere is also unavailable for selection in this match.

Tedesco may opt to give opportunities to England-based players such as Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, and Timothy Castagne, who could potentially feature in Belgium’s preferred 4-3-3 formation. There might also be a chance for teenage defender Jorne Spileers to earn some playing time after receiving his first senior call-up.

Azerbaijan

Unlike Belgium, Azerbaijan will not be playing at the upcoming Euros. Sitting fourth with a 10-point gap between them and Belgium, who are currently second, Gianni De Biasi’s team lost all chance of qualification some time ago.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan’s recent victory against Sweden, ending a long streak without a home win in European qualifiers, stands out as a remarkable achievement. The team demonstrated a remarkable performance, securing a comprehensive 3-0 triumph. Early goals from Emin Mahmudov and Renat Dadashov set the tone, and despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, they managed to hold on to their lead. Mahmudov added another goal late on, marking a significant win against a more established European footballing nation.

This success follows their previous positive results, including a friendly victory over Jordan and win against Estonia in Group F. Despite their early elimination from Euro 2024 contention, Azerbaijan’s recent performances have showcased their resilience and determination in the latter part of the qualifying campaign.

Team News

De Biasi is set to retain a similar lineup that brought about the victory over Sweden. However, due to the suspension of center-back Bahlul Mustafazada following his dismissal, Hojjat Haghverdi is expected to step in as his replacement in the heart of Azerbaijan’s defence.

Hatayspor striker Renat Dadashov and team captain Emin Mahmudov are likely to lead the Azeri attack once more.

Conclusion

Belgium, even after securing qualification, will maintain their competitive edge due to the intense competition for places in both the squad for Euro 2024 and the starting lineup.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan, despite showing improvement recently, aren’t likely to cause serious problems for the home side, leading to The Sweden scenario might be challenging to replicate for Azerbaijan, especially considering Belgium’s strength and depth in their squad.

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Betfair