Belgium vs. Italy: preview and betting tips

On Friday, we will face the opening two quarterfinal matches of the European Football Championship. One of them will be the duel between Belgium and Italy, which is expected to be a very interesting battle. Will coach Martinez’s team advance without some of its mainstays?

In Group B, Belgium will face Russia, Denmark and Finland. The 2018 World Cup bronze medallists dominated all three duels, receiving only one goal.

In the semi-finals, the selection of the 47-year-old coach Roberto Martinez faced Portugal, one of the toughest possible opponents. Although Belgium did not put in an ideal performance, they advanced thanks to a goal from Thorgan Hazard late in the first half.

Italy was drawn in Group A along with Wales, Switzerland and Turkey. The team from the Apennine Peninsula dominated the group with nine points and advanced from first place.

In the eighth round, the team of experienced coach Roberto Mancini took on Austria. No goal was scored in normal time and the match had to be decided in extra time. Both Chiesa and Pessina scored in the final, which meant that Italy advanced.

So what to bet on? Normally, Belgium would be the slight favourite. However, given the possible absence of two stars (Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard), this is not the case.

A very even match can be expected, with both teams coming out of a secure defence. Therefore, I recommend betting on a maximum of two goals in normal time.