Belgium v Italy Predictions & Betting Odds – Euro 2016

Clash of styles to end in parity?

Belgium v Italy Euro 2016

Belgium v Italy Betting Preview – Euro 2016, 13th June
This could be a tight battle between two evenly matched side. A look down the Belgium squad and you can see bags of quality in there, but they go up against major tournament experts Italy. The Red Devils never hit their stride at the 2014 World Cup and were stumped by Wales during Euro 2016 qualifying. Both will likely be hard to break down on the day with defences coming out on top in the Group E clash. The winner of this should take full control of the group which also contains Ireland and Sweden.

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Belgium v Italy Euro 2016 Infographic

Belgium v Italy Betting Tips

If Belgium actually stick to what they know best, they have the depth in their squad to make a great run at the Euro 2106 title. They were open and fluent again through qualification, just as they were in 2014 World Cup qualifying. But at the actual World Cup, they shut up shop to try and go all defensive and with them never coming out of their shell, they fell a long way short of what was expected of them. They played five matches at the 2014 World Cup and in those matches there were just the six goals scored in total (90 minutes). So the question is, will they follow the same path and play defensive here or will they stick to what served them so well in qualifying? Under 2.5 goals here is probably favorite at a price of 1/2 because this is Belgium’s hardest game in the group

These two actually met in a friendly back in November last year and Belgium took a comfortable 3-1 win on that occasion. Three of the last four contested between Italy and Belgium have been settled with a 3-1 scoreline, Belgium winning two of those. But this is a tough group battle, the first steps in Euro 2016 for both, so it’s not likely to be a goal fest with sides erring on the side of caution. Belgium have won seven of their last nine but during that run of games have managed to keep just the one clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Cyprus. Andorra, Finland and Israel have all breached Belgium in that sequence. You can have a crack at both teams to score for a 6/5 quote and Romelu Lukaku is a 2/1 option in the anytime goalscorer market.

From Italy’s side of things, Graziano Pelle is a 2/1 shot as well in the anytime goalscorer market for the game. They were comfortable through qualifying but like Belgium, will probably go more defensive at the tournament. That is what Italy generally do, put a stronger emphasis on defence. They had gone on a four match winless streak before winning their last two friendly warm up matches, those victories coming over Scotland and Finland. We all know that Italy can be tough, they can be organised and tough to break down. The big question mark over them is where the goals are going to come from, especially nearer the business end of the tournament. That is where they may fall down. They are not as solid at the back as they were four years ago in reaching the Euro 2012 Final, but they will make things hard for everyone they come up against.

Belgium v Italy Betting Odds

Belgium 8/5, Draw 21/10, Italy 21/10

Belgium v Italy Predictions

So Belgium ave far better attacking options than Italy do, but Italy can fight and manage games so well when it comes to major tournaments. So this is really a toss up and it will be interesting to see what kind of approach Belgium make. It probably won’t be over-adventurous and you can see this one being settled in a draw. Look under 2.5 goals.