Belgium vs Finland: Preview

By Kenneth Offor

Belgium vs Finland:
International Friendly.
Date: Wednesday, 1 June 2016;
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT,
Venue: Stade Roi Baudouin (Brussels).

Belgium will be hosting Finland at Stade Roi Baudouin Bruxelles in another international friendly game and continue their Euro 2016 preparation as they will be looking to continue with their winning mentality from last game against Switzerland.

Belgium defeated 10 men Switzerland 2-1 last week Saturday to steer themselves back to winning ways. Belgium’s Superb run from September of 2016 was dented by Portugal on 29th March in an international friendly that ended 2-1 in favour of Portugal, but last week goals from Everton striker Lomelu Lukaku and Manchester City’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne were enough to hand them a victory over 10 men Switzerland, they will be hoping to continue their winning against Finland before their final warm up match with Norway.

Finland on the other hand will be using this match for preparing their squad for the World Cup qualifying campaign in October 2016. They failed qualify for the Euro competition as they finished 4th in their group where they lost 4 of their 10 games and drew 3, they scored only 9 goals and conceded 10. The luuserss are in a terrible form and lost in all of their last four friendly game, since drawing 1-1 against Northern Ireland in the final qualifying game on October 2015. They have also failed to score in their last four games and head-coach Hans Backe will be hoping for an improved performance from his boys to end their losing streak.

Belgium: Predicted Line-up (4-2-3-1)

Courtois – Witsel, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertoghen – Fellaini, Dembele – Mertens, De Bruyne, Hazard – Lukaku.

Finland: Predicted Line Up (4-4-2)

Hradecky – Arkivuo, Toivio, Raitala, Uronen – Eremenko, Sparv, Hetemaj, Hamalainen, Ring – Pukki

Belgium vs Finland: Head to Head stats

Belgium and Finland have played a total of 10 games which Finland have won 4 of the 10 games, they have drawn 3 and lost 3 to Belgium.

Both teams last played together in 2011, a friendly game that ended in 1-1 stalemate but Finland have dominated their last 6 games, they are un beaten in their last 6 games against Belgium as they have won 4 and drawn 2.

At home, Belgium have won equal number of games as Finland, both teams have won once in their 5 games on Belgium soil and drew 3.

Belgium vs Finland: Prediction

The Era of Finland domination may be put to a stop in this game comparing the recent performance of the 2 teams and their current Squad depth, Finland may be in for another brutality of goals after the January 10 action from Sweden. The only advantage the Finnish side have is fatigue considering that the Belgians just played a game on Saturday, but that won’t be a problem for the Belgium side playing in front of their home fans.