No signs yet from Belgium they are ready take World Cup 2014 by storm and they might not get it all their own way against USA on Tuesday.
It is hard to fault a side that qualified for the Last 16 with maximum points but greater things were expected from Belgium and they haven’t really found their stride just yet.
Perhaps it is a good sign for manager Marc Wilmots that his players won each of their three fixtures while far from their best but I prefer to take the view that the trend will continue and they could need longer than 90 minutes to get the better of USA.
Victories over Algeria, Russia and South Korea, all by a single goal, saw Belgium top Group H as anticipated and Wilmots had the luxury of resting a few key men for the 1-0 success over the Asians.
USA really impressed with their attitude, and ability, when escaping a tough section at the expense of Portugal and Ghana to qualify and I am no longer underestimating them.
I was of the view that Jurgen Klinsmann squad probably wasn’t up to it heading to Brazil but John Brooks’ late winner versus the Ghanaians set the tone and they were hugely unfortunate not to have secured progress with a game to spare.
USA led Portugal deep into stoppage time before Silvestre Varela equalised and that set up a nervy final encounter with Germany.
Thomas Muller’s strike gave Klinsmann’s fellow countryman the win but USA matched their more celebrated opponents for long periods and should have nothing to fear from Belgium.
That defeat was USA’s first failure in six matches to find the opposition’s net at least twice in a match and while Belgium are usually excellent at the back, they do have defensive injury concerns.
Vincent Kompany, the Belgium captain, is a doubt and his absence would add to the feeling that Belgium are vulnerable for a contest that is set to be played in sweltering conditions in Salvador.
2pts Lay Belgium (vs. USA) @ 2.00 (Betfair)