Belgium Vs Italy
Belgium Vs Italy Friday 2nd July, 2021 – 20:00
UEFA European Championship 2020 – Quarter-Final
Pick: Draw
Odds: 21/10
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 30 June 2021)
Preview: Allianz Arena, Munich, will host Belgium against Italy in the second quarter-final match up of Euro 2020. The Belgians have never beaten the Italians before at a major tournament in four previous attempts, while the Azzurri have seen their last three quarter-final ties settled on penalties.
UEFA Euro 2020 Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Belgium – Martinez must find solutions to injury woes?
The champions of Europe, Portugal, have been dethroned. By the number one ranked side no less. Four of the last five teams to have eliminated the previous tournament winner went on to lift the trophy. It is something the Belgians, after defeating the Portuguese 1-0 in Seville, are considered only fourth favourites to achieve at Wembley on 11 July. They’re not even favourites against the Italians.
Thorgan Hazard’s second goal in as many games, and sixth goal involvement in his last seven starts, was enough to consign Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a 1-0 defeat in the Last 16. It was Belgium’s first head-to-head victory in six attempts and came courtesy of yet another clean sheet for Thibaut Courtois. Denmark, who have since scored eight in two outings, remain the only team to score past him thus far.
Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku produced a monstrous showing in leading an attack hampered by injuries to both Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne. Neither are expected to recover in time for Friday. Their absences, if confirmed, could well hamper efforts for an eighth win in nine European Championship matches, in what will be their fourth consecutive quarter-final appearance at a major tournament.
Italy – Austrian scare a blip or something more ominous?
One-time European Championship champions Italy required an additional 30 minutes to see off Austria in the Round of 16. The Austrians were much-improved from their middling form shown in the group stage and were a marginal VAR call away from producing a major shock. Nevertheless, it was the Azzurri who booked their place in the Last 8. A fourth consecutive quarter-final appearance at this tournament.
The darlings of this edition’s group stage. Italy had set the bar high after easing into the knockout rounds by scoring seven unanswered goals. Technically, their remarkable run of clean sheets was broken last time with Sasa Kalajdzic’s late header. That was in extra-time though. Inside 90 minutes, the Italians have not been breached in 12 consecutive games, averaging a meagre 1.25 shots on target faced at Euro 2020.
Roberto Mancini has now overseen four straight wins at Euro 2020. He will become the first Azzurri manager to register five in a row at a European Championship should his side bring about the demise of Belgium, who are without a win in all four prior tournament meetings between the countries (D1 L3). It may take penalties for that to happen, though. Italy’s last three Euro quarter-finals all went the distance.
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Belgium Vs Italy Betting Advice
The loss of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne is naturally a huge blow to Belgium’s chances of going any further, but their drift to a better than 2/1 shot to beat Italy inside 90 minutes seems too much. Belgium are a consistent sort, reaching the Last Eight stage now at each of the last four tournaments having recently eliminated reigning European champions Portugal with another astute defensive display.
Belgium Vs Italy – Key Facts:
- Following their 1-0 win over Euro 2016 winners Portugal, Belgium have reached at least the quarter-final stage in each of the past four major tournaments (Euros & World Cup).
- It may have took extra-time but Italy are through to their fourth consecutive quarter-final at the European Championships, conceding for the first time in 12 games last time.
- So far at these finals, Belgium (1) and Italy (0) have conceded one goal between them when excluding goals scored in extra-time. Therefore goals could be sparse.
Belgium have only conceded once so far. That to a Danish side which has scored eight times in two further outings. Italy are still to be breached inside 90 minutes meanwhile, though did concede deep into extra-time against the Austrians. So goals could be in short supply at Allianz Arena, particularly as the Belgians are missing key creative players in Hazard and De Bruyne and are unlikely to leave themselves exposed.
Boasting a combined seven clean sheets in eight games at these finals (excluding extra-time), the 0-0 correct score certainly appeals. BetVictor go 15/2 on a goalless affair in Munich.
Best Betting Odds – Belgium Vs Italy
Belgium – 12/5 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 11/5 (BetFred)
Italy – 13/10 (Betway)
