Missed penalty proves costly as Canada fall to undeserved Belgian defeat

Alphonso Davies reacts to his missed penalties. Image: PA Canada 0 Belgium 1 CANADA, RETURNING TO the World Cup for the first time since 1986, were quickly reacquainted with the sheer ignorance of the thing.

Canada can leave with encouragement and some grievance – they were denied two legitimate penalties after Davies’ missed his - but they will also ruminate on their lack killer instinct. They took 21 shots, but only three of them were on target. And one of those was Davies’ penalty. Canada tonight proved are much more than just Davies. Their combinations down either flank consistently created chances, while in Porto’s Stephen Eustaquio they have a Champions League-level playmaker, his low-slung socks, ramrod-straight back and coiled pop of a pass redolent of Thiago Alcantara.But it was Davies who had the golden opportunity to make palpable Canada’s strong start, after a VAR-awarded handball in the box by Yannick Carrasco after only 10 minutes.

Belgium got their few moments of joy when they dropped the pretence and simply got it launched. First the memory of Hazard’s glory years briefly flickered with a stunning touch and pirouette to take him clear of Johnston, but his pull-back was sightly behind Tielemans and the move ended with Batshuayi firing over the crossbar.

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