Euro 2024
2024-06-22 - Belgium vs Romania
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; EURO 2024; Group E: 2nd Round
Rhein Energie Stadion – Koln
Saturday, 22nd June 2024 - kickoff 21:00 CET
Belgium
Belgium faced a tough start to their EURO 2024 campaign, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against Slovakia. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, luck was not on their side. Romelu Lukaku, the key figure in Belgium's attack, had two goals disallowed by VAR and failed to find the net despite several attempts.
They are now facing another difficult and very motivated opponent who also has a chance of progressing through. Coach Domenico Tedesco is likely to stick with a similar lineup, given that the team's performance was largely satisfactory aside from the result. Yannick Carrasco's left-back role is expected to continue, while the midfield pairing of Amadou Onana and Orel Mangala provided stability and is likely to feature again.
Romania
Romania impressed in their opening match with a surprising 3-0 victory over Ukraine. Despite having only 29% possession, Romania was clinical with its opportunities and scored superb goals. Denis Dragus led the attack effectively, scoring once, while Dennis Man provided two crucial assists, showcasing Romania's efficiency on the counter-attack.
Coach Edward Iordanescu is expected to keep faith in the squad that performed so well against Ukraine. The attacking trio of Denis Dragus, Dennis Man, and Florinel Coman were pivotal in the win, and there are no significant injuries reported that would force changes to this successful lineup.
The Betting Verdict
Belgium remains a favorite despite their opening loss due to their superior squad depth and talent. Romelu Lukaku will be looking to redeem himself after a frustrating first game and looks like a lock for anytime goalscorer bet at odds of 2.00. With Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield, Belgium definitely has the firepower to break down Romania's defense.
Romania, however, cannot be underestimated after its excellent performance against Ukraine. Their counter-attacking speed and defensive resilience make them a tough opponent, and they will be motivated by the chance to secure a spot in the knockout stages with another positive result.
This match will likely be a closely fought encounter, with Belgium likely edging it due to their need to bounce back and overall quality. However, Romania's strong start and tactical discipline will ensure it is far from an easy game for the Red Devils.
The Pick :
Belgium 2-1 Romania
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Belgium to win & over 1 goal in the match at odds of 1.72 at Bet365
