The standings in Group E after the first matchday look nothing like what we could have expected, with Romania on top and Belgium among the teams with no points. The game between the two is of high importance for the Red Devils, and it will take place at the RheinEnergieStadion in Köln on Saturday, June 22nd.
Belgium vs Romania: Initial situation
Belgium has no other option but to go out and win this match if they want to secure a spot in the elimination phase. They failed to do so at the last World Cup, and if the same happens at EURO 2024, it will be a total disaster. Romania, on the other hand, won the opener and can move on in high spirits. They have nothing to lose in this game, which is exactly what makes them a dangerous opponent.
Belgium Stats & Form
Belgium came into the opening matchday against Slovakia as an absolute favorite, and no one could have predicted what was about to happen. Slovakia scored in the seventh minute, and Belgium could not respond by the end of the game. They had 56% of the possession and had 15 shots, five of which were on target, but they simply could not convert on any of the opportunities.
That was Belgium’s first loss in the last 16 games, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. They also have six wins and three draws in the last ten games. They came into the tournament defeating Luxembourg and Montenegro without allowing a goal. In three of the last five Belgium games, no more than two goals were scored.
Romania Stats & Form
After four games without a win, Romania won when it matters the most. They were the underdogs going into the game against Ukraine, but they didn’t just win but showed one of the best performances in their history. Romania was all over the pitch and the goals they scored were absolutely brilliant. After taking the lead in the first half, Romania scored twice in a five-minute stretch at the beginning of the second giving no chance of returning to Ukraine.
Romania has five wins in the last ten games, with four draws and only one loss. The only loss came in a friendly game against Colombia. Going into the competition, Romania played two scoreless friendlies against Liechtenstein and Bulgaria.
Belgium vs Romania: Head to Head
These two teams have played five times before, with Romania winning three times and Belgium twice. The last time they played was in 2012, when Romania won 2-1 in a friendly game. They also played in the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup, with both teams winning at home. Three of their previous five games ended 2-1, while the other two saw a single goal in each of them.
Slovenia vs Serbia Odds
Belgium is a major favorite going into this game with -222 odds going in their favor while the odds for the Romania’s win are at 600. The odds for a draw are 350.
The total goals margin is set at 2.5 with -125 for over and 100 for under.
Betting tip and prediction: Belgium vs Romania (22.06.2024)
This is a must-win game for Belgium, and failing to do so will be a real disaster for them. They were outplayed in the opener against Slovakia and will have to bounce back immediately against Romania. Kevin de Bruyne has been the leader of this team for a while now, and his international career may be judged by this game. Romelu Lukaku is the best scorer in Belgium’s history, and that will mean nothing if they are eliminated in the group stage of a major competition for the second time in a row.
No matter how good Belgium is, Romania made a lot of noise on the opening matchday, and they deserve all the respect. Romania showed what football is all about, and with an open and brave game plan, they beat Ukraine by 3-0.
Romania has nothing to lose in this game and would be happy with a tie. However, Belgium’s aggressiveness will be tough to deal with, and we are predicting that the Red Devils will stay in the competition for the next stage with a win and a team total of over 1.5 goals.