DOHA: Belgium struggled all the way to a fortunat1-0 victory Canada in Group F of the World Cup finals in Qatar

Canada, playing with enormous intensity, commanded much of the game but were let down by their finishing – most notably when Alphonso Davies had a poor first-half penalty saved by Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois.

The Real Madrid star also had to save well from Alistair Johnston, but Canada were undone against the run of play on the stroke of half-time when Michy Batshuayi collected Toby Alderweireld’s long ball and fired a powerful left-foot finish past Milan Borjan.

Jonathan David wasted a glorious headed chance to draw Canada level and Courtois also saved from Cyle Larin. Canada were also left nursing a sense of injustice after they had two presentable penalty appeals ignored in the first half.

Canada continued to push forward in the second half but it was Roberto Martinez’s veteran defenders who closed out the win, despite a performance that belied their status as second in the world rankings.

of this performance, may have left their best days behind them.

Belgium still have glorious talent in the shape of Kevin de Bruyne and a world-class keeper in Courtois but the duo of Toby Alderweireld, 33, and 35-year-old Jan Vertonghen were barely able to contain the Canadian pace.

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