Batshuayi fires Belgium to World Cup win over Canada

Belgium’s forward #23 Michy Batshuayi celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates Belgium’s midfielder #06 Axel Witsel (R) and Belgium’s midfielder #11 Yannick Carrasco during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Canada at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 23, 2022. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

Michy Batshuayi’s first-half goal proved enough for a below-par Belgium to squeeze to a 1-0 win over a Canada side playing their first World Cup match for 36 years on Wednesday.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved Alphonso Davies’ early penalty and Batshuayi opened the scoring against the run of play in the 44th minute.

John Herdman’s Canada, roared on by their vocal support, also had another strong penalty appeal turned down and dominated the second half to no avail.

Belgium were without injured record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku and struggled throughout with the pace of Canada’s forwards.

But the 2018 semi-finalists clung on to move top of what could prove a hotly-contested Group F after Croatia and Morocco’s goalless draw earlier on Wednesday.

“Was it technically our ‘worst game’, yes, when you measure the performance,” admitted Belgium coach Roberto Martinez. “Was it the ‘worst game’, no, because we won.

“We defended well and we needed our goalkeeper.”

Canada will head into their game against Croatia on Sunday still full of confidence after more than matching the team ranked second in the world, who next face Morocco.

“They showed tonight that they do belong here. It’s been a long time since we’ve been back,” said Herdman, the first coach to lead teams at women’s and men’s World Cups.

“I’m sure they (the fans) walked away proud and feeling like we are a football