Match Preview
Belgium will welcome Ivory Coast to the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Thursday in the first of two friendly games to be played. The Red Devils will have their eyes set on extending an impressive winning run of 12 when the West Africans arrive for the night's encounter.
An impressive run after their almost-successful 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign has earned Roberto Martinez's side the honor of sitting first on the FIFA Rankings. Indeed, with the stars of their 'Golden Generation' in Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, etc all at the peak of their powers, that was certainly inevitable.
Going into the upcoming clash, they will also seek to unleash the likes of Jeremy Doku and Alexis Jesse Saelemaekers on their opponents as they have shown much promise since making their respective debuts.
For Ivory Coast, a different type of test awaits them as they make an appearance for the first time in 11 months. The most recent outing of the African side is not one that brings fond memories as Ethiopia managed to upset the odds to condemn them to a 2-1 away defeat.
Prior to that, the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations winners were on a three-game unbeaten run. In Brussels, the likes of Maxwell Cornet, Franck Kessie, Nicolas Pepe, and Wilfred Zaha, and Jermain Boga will all be put through their paces as they aim to get a win before taking on Japan in their subsequent friendly game
Form
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Belgium in the last 10 matches: W10 D0 L0
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Ivory Coast in the last 10 matches: W5 D0 L5.
Possible starting XI
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Belgium possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Dendoncker, Denayer, Boyata; Meunier, Witsel, Praet, Castagne; Saelemaekers, Batshuayi, Carrasco
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Ivory Coast possible starting lineup: Gbohouo; Aurier, Bailly, Gbamin, Konan; Kessie, Sangare; Pepe, Zaha, Boga; Kouame.
Broadcast information
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
