The UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifiers are upon us, and the opening round brings an exciting clash at Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden, so we have prepared the best Sweden vs. Belgium betting pick along with the latest odds update.
Sweden – Belgium Betting Tip, Prediction & Odds (24.3.2023)
After missing the 2022 FIFA World Cup and a disastrous display in the UEFA Nations League, Sweden will look to make amends in front of the home fans and kick-start the EURO 2024 Qualifiers. On the other side, Belgium put on a disappointing performance in Qatar this past November, so the visitors will be highly motivated to earn three points Friday in Sweden.
Sweden vs. Belgium: Initial Situation
It’s a tricky competition in Group F of the upcoming EURO qualifiers. Sweden and Belgium will compete against Austria, Estonia, and Azerbaijan, so the top-two finish is everything but guaranteed. Austria will be a tough rival to beat, and a long trip to Azerbaijan is always a difficult one.
Sweden Stats & Form
The Blue and Yellow have won four straight matches, though all four wins have come in friendlies. During that stretch, the Blue and Yellow have beaten Mexico 2-1, Algeria 2-0, Finland 2-0, and Iceland 2-1. On the flip side, they were awful in the UEFA Nations League last year, finishing bottom of Group B4 with four points (W1, D1, L4) and a 7:11 goal difference.
Head coach Janne Andersson has been in charge since 2016 and holds a record of 43 wins, 14 draws, and 26 losses. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (121 caps, 62 goals) returns to Andersson’s squad after a one-year absence, and the 41-year-old striker will serve as a super-sub. Keep your eyes on Emil Forsberg (78 caps, 19 goals), Alexander Isak (37 caps, nine goals), and Dejan Kulusevski (27 caps, two goals), who are the most dangerous attacking players in the starting eleven.
Belgium Stats & Form
The Red Devils failed to reach to knock-out phase in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, finishing third in Group F behind Morocco and Croatia. They beat Canada 1-0, lost to Morocco 2-0, and drew 0-0 against Croatia, so Roberto Martinez had to go after spending six years as a head coach. Domenico Tedesco, a former RB Leipzig and Schalke manager, took over in February and will have a debut against Sweden.
Kevin De Bruyne (97 caps, 25 goals) will continue to drive this Belgium team, while Romelu Lukaku (104 caps, 68 goals) should remain the starting striker. Michy Batshuayi (50 caps, 27 goals) suffered an ankle injury a few days ago and will be sidelined for at least a month.
Sweden – Belgium: Head-to-Head
The Blue and Yellow meet the Red Devils for the first time since 2016 when Belgium defeated Sweden 1-0 in the group stage of the EURO 2016. The Red Devils have won their previous three encounters with the Blue and Yellow, whose last victory over Belgium came in 1961.
Sweden – Belgium Odds
The bookmakers favor Belgium over Sweden but wouldn’t be surprised by a draw or the hosts’ victory. Double Chance 1X sits at 1.70 on bet365 Sportsbook which seems tempting given Sweden’s run of form at home. In their last 11 outings in front of the home audience, the Blue and Yellow have registered seven wins and a couple of draws and losses.
When it comes to the totals, the bookies are not looking for a high-scoring affair. Over 2.5 Goals pays 2.20 at Unibet Sportsbook, and bet365 offers 1.83 odds on Both Teams to Score YES.
The Red Devils are a bit of a mystery with Domenico Tedesco as their new head coach. Tedesco prefers to play with three centre-backs and insists on a patient build-up play, so I’m expecting a tight, low-scoring battle when he takes on Jesse Andersson’s cautious 4-4-2 formation. It’s a tough opening contest and both teams should take a patient approach.
Betting tip and prediction: Sweden – Belgium (24.3.2023)