Estonia host Belgium in the Euro 2024 qualifiers on Tuesday night and they will be looking to get back to winning ways with a morale-boosting result here.
Estonia are coming into this game on the back of a defeat against Austria and a draw against Azerbaijan. They are currently fourth in the Euro 2024 qualifiers Group F.
On the other hand, Belgium are second in the standings and they will look to climb to the top of the table with a win here. Belgium were held to a 1-1 draw against Austria in their last outing and they will be desperate to pick up all three points here.
Belgium have an exceptional head-to-head record against Estonia and they will be firm favourites to pick up a victory here. On paper, they have the better team and Domenico Tedesco will be under pressure to guide his side to a positive result.
Devils in Estonia. 🛬 #WirSchaffenDas pic.twitter.com/dzYpwuRzej
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 19, 2023
Team news and tactics
Estonia
Thomas Haberli’s side does not have any major injury issues ahead of this contest and he should be able to field a full-strength lineup here.
Estonia are likely to shape up in a 3-5-2 formation with Karl Hein in goal. In the back three, Rasmus Peetson is expected to start alongside Karol Mets and Marten Kuusk.
Marco Lukka and Vlasiy Sinyavskiy will be deployed as the wing-backs here and the two players will look to protect the central defenders and contribute offensively.
In the middle of the park, Martin Miller will start alongside Mattias Kait and Konstantin Vassiljev.
Henri Anier and Rauno Sappinen will lead the line for Estonia.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Hein; Peetson, Mets, Kuusk; Lukka, Miller, Kait, Vassiljev, Sinyavskiy; Anier, Sappinen
Belgium
Domenico Tedesco should be able to field a full-strength lineup here and Thibaut Courtois is expected to start in goal. Belgium are likely to start in a 3-5-2 formation as well.
Wout Faes will start in the back three alongside Sebastiaan Bornauw and Arthur Theate.
Timothy Castagne and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco will start as the wing-backs. In the middle of the park, Aster Vranckx will start alongside Youri Tielemans and Hans Vanaken.
Lois Openda will lead the line for Belgium alongside Romelu Lukaku.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Courtois; Faes, Bornauw, Theate; Castagne, Vranckx, Tielemans, Vanaken, Carrasco; Openda, Lukaku
Key Stats
- Belgium have been winning at both half-time and full-time in 7 of their last 8 matches against Estonia in all competitions.
- Belgium have won 7 of their last 8 matches against Estonia in all competitions.
- Belgium have scored at least 2 goals in 6 of their last 7 matches against Estonia in all competitions.
- 29 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
Player to watch out for
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian striker has 16 goal contributions in 19 league starts for Inter Milan this season and despite having an underwhelming season overall, he has been amongst the goals.
His ability to influence the game in the final third makes him a key player for Belgium. He should be able to take advantage of Estonia’s defensive vulnerabilities and punish the opposition.
Prediction
Estonia 0-2 Belgium
Belgium are certainly the better team here and they have the better set of players as well.
Estonia are winless in their last two outings and they will find it difficult to grind out a result here.
Belgium have picked up five wins from their last six matches against Estonia and they should be able to extend that run with a positive result here. The Hard Tackle predicts are comfortable 2-0 win for Belgium.
