Denmark and Belgium meet in the second round of the group stage clashes in what is arguably the best match that Group B could produce.
Denmark and Belgium meet in the second round of group stage clashes in arguably the best match that Group B could produce, as well as being a definitive factor in deciding if Belgium, one of the tournament favourites, would top the standings before the crunch knockout stages begin.
The Danes will enjoy home advantage at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium, while Roberto Martinez’ Red Devils aim to steamroll every opponent in their path and live up to their tag of the number one ranked team in world football to claim their first-ever European Championship.
Euro 2020: Group B
Thursday 17 June
Parken Stadium
To Win Match
Denmark 31/10
Draw 43/20
Belgium 1/1
Denmark
The entire football world is in full support of the family, friends and teammates of Danish talisman Christian Eriksen. The Inter Milan playmaker received emergency medical treatment on the Parken Stadium pitch during their opening round 1-0 defeat to tournament debutants Finland.
Fortunately, Eriksen is well on his way to recovery and Denmark’s number 10 will now be cheering his mates on from the sidelines.
Coach Kasper Hjulmand’s side will have a tough week ahead of them, trying to focus on the task at hand, displaying professionalism in preparation to face the world’s best, in front of the expectant home support, while remembering the tragic scenes just a few days earlier.
Luckily for everyone involved, football is our passion and solution to our problems. Finding a way to beat the Red Devils is going to an uphill task for an ageing defence. Romelu Lukaku was too much to handle for Danish captain Simon Kjaer’s AC Milan in recent meetings.
Belgium
With Lukaku in imperious form, the Red Devils cantered to a 3-0 win over Russia in Saint-Petersburg. Worryingly for every other team that has their eyes set on the grand prize, Belgium never seemed to hit top gear in their opening fixture and there’s definitely plenty more to come with Eden Hazard only playing a cameo role as he nears full fitness.
Meanwhile, playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and dependable box-to-box midfielder Axel Witsel are also nearing returns to the matchday squad after being absentees for last Saturday’s encounter.
Martinez has his troops well-drilled and it would take a monumental effort to get anything from a team that has suffered just two defeats from their last 30 competitive games.
This tie will see two of the best goalkeepers in world football go toe-to-toe as Kasper Schmeichel and Thibaut Courtois target clean sheets when it matters the most. De Bruyne is set to make his return which will heavily tilt the scale in Belgium’s favour and leave the Danish with very little to delight in.
Prediction: Belgium (-1) Handicap (26/10)
Like the previous game, I’m going all in on Belgium to win handsomely, put your money on the (-1) Handicap again, this time around at healthy odds of 26/10. With Thierry Henry expertly guiding red-hot Lukaku from the sidelines, I expect Belgium to run riot and Inter Milan’s spearhead to extend his record as the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer.
