Denmark vs Belgium
Days after their emotional first game against Finland, Denmark will prepare for a big battle ahead when they’ll take on Belgium next.
This upcoming Euro 2020 match is considered a must-win for the Danes regardless of their emotional state since they are in danger of missing a knockout stage spot given their place in the standings.
With the loss to Finland, Denmark have zero points and are placed third in Group B. Meanwhile, their opponents in Belgium are at the top after dominating Russia.
Other than the high stakes involved, this fixture should bring a lot of excitement given the players who are expected to create numerous Euro 2020 highlights.
Romelu Lukaku will feature heavily in Belgium’s attack and Denmark’s backline are going to be in for a long night in trying to stop him.
As for the Danes, they certainly have the players who can give Belgium problems and they will be forced to step up given the absence of Christian Eriksen, whose run in the tournament is over.
Talking Points
Denmark to pay tribute to their warrior
Football has taken a backseat for the Danes, and understandably so given what has happened to one of their top players in Christian Eriksen.
It was a distressing event to say the least, not only for Denmark and Christian Eriksen’s family, but to all football fans across the globe because the 29-year-old fainted on to the pitch out of nowhere.
Denmark’s team doctor confirmed that Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and that he was close to “being gone”. However, kudos to the medical staff and to everyone who helped revive him back to life.
Team captain Simon Kjaer has been getting plaudits for his heroic actions during the scare, which includes shielding Christian Eriksen away from TV cameras and consoling his wife Sabrina Kvist Jensen during the ordeal.
The Inter Milan midfielder is now resting in a hospital bed and he is in good spirits. Eriksen vowed that he’ll come back stronger than ever. But for now, the Danes will have to figure out on how to continue without him.
With Eriksen out, there needs to be a collective effort from everyone. Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Holjberg will be tasked to hold down the midfield while Yussuf Poulsen and Martin Braithwaite should be aggressive in chasing goals.
Roberto Martinez to dig deep in Belgium’s depth
Head coach Roberto Martinez is expected to tweak his starting lineup due to some injury updates.
Leicester City full-back Timothy Castagne is expected to be out for this tournament due to an eye injury he suffered against Russia which should open more opportunities for Dedryck Boyata and Jason Denayer.
Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, and Jan Vertonghen are all considered doubts. And should they come in fit for this game, it would be a huge boost for the Red Devils.
But at the end of the day, Belgium’s fate lies on the big shoulders of Romelu Lukaku. He is, after all, one of the best strikers in world football and he’ll look to add to his tally in this competition.
History
Denmark and Belgium have been pretty much even when looking at their head-to-head record.
In their 15 games against each other, both teams have gathered six victories along with three draws.
These two sides last met during the UEFA Nations League last November to where we were treated to an attacking masterclass by Roberto Martinez’s side.
Youri Tielemans, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku scored for the Red Devils, while the Danes benefitted from a goal by Jonas Wind and an own goal from Nacer Chadli.
Betting Tip
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Denmark vs Belgium | Belgium Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 1.73 |
| June 18, 00:00 (GMT+8) |
The Euro 2020 odds here at SBOTOP have Belgium installed as the team who should win this Thursday, albeit via a slim margin.
The Red Devils are priced to win at 2.06, whereas Denmark are pegged at 3.65 and a draw is at 3.15 in the 1×2 market.
Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand faces a tall order in trying to keep his wards’ emotions in check and it remains to be seen on how they’ll respond against the No. 1 country in the world.
Belgium, on the other hand, are top-ranked for a reason and they’ll remind everyone as to why that’s the case. Roberto Martinez and his crew are certain to capitalise by scoring a bunch of goals.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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