An ideal group stage document signifies that Belgium has as soon as once more cruised into their fifth consecutive knockout stage look at a significant event. Having gained their earlier three spherical of 16 ties (2014 & 2018 World Cup, Euro 2016), albeit towards opposition ranked thirteenth, twentieth, and 61st respectively on the time, they possess an unfavorable total knockout document towards top-ten ranked opponents throughout these tournaments (W1, L2).
With 4 of their seven targets up to now arriving within the seventieth minute or onwards, it hasn’t been all plain cruising for the ‘Purple Devils’, however, two clear sheets both aspect of a gutsy comeback win towards Denmark confirmed their championship credentials. Right here, they bid to go one higher than their third-place end on the 2018 WC and make solely their second main event closing (1980 European Championship).
Defending champions Portugal nearly escaped the ‘Group of Dying’ through a third-place end (W1, D1, L1), arriving at their eighth consecutive European Championship knockout stage. Their 2016 championship-run has helped to spice up their constructive document at this stage (W8, L6), while successful three of the 4 knockout video games through further time or penalties at Euro 2016 reveals their collective calm in pressurized moments.
With all three of their matches witnessing over 2.5 targets, Portugal have been the competitors’ entertainers up to now. Traditionally talking, they face beneficial opposition right here, as you’d need to journey all the way in which again to 1989 for the final Belgian victory in an H2H, with Portugal going undefeated within the 5 fixtures since (W3, D2). As well as, Portugal is certainly one of solely two groups to maintain Belgium off the scoresheet of their final 58 matches – enjoying out a 0-0 attract June 2018.
Gamers to observe: Belgium ace Romelu Lukaku has solely misplaced twice when scoring for Belgium (W36, D4, L2), whereas Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the Euro’s high aim scorer each on this version and all time. On 109 targets for his nation, he’s now only one strike away from being the all-time high worldwide aim scorer.
Scorching stat: Belgium has scored 2+ targets in 25 of their final 27 aggressive matches.
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