Belgium Euro 2021 Tips and Betting Odds
Welcome to BettingOdds.com's Euro 2021 profile series, where we'll be counting down to next summer's tournament with an in-depth look a the betting opportunities for each of the countries involved.
After bulldozing their way through qualifying, Belgium are third-favourites behind England and France in the Euro betting odds market, priced at 6/1. Roberto Martinez's side have been playing some tremendous football recently and their performance in qualifying - where they won all 10 of their games - has made them one of the team's to beat at this summer's tournament.
What is most impressive about this Belgium side is how many goals they score. Throughout qualifying they netted 40 in just 10 matches - more than any other group winner, whilst conceding just three goals in the process! Needless to say, no other side ended the qualification process with a better record both in defence and in attack and it is that kind of form which suggests they will prove incredibly stiff competition when Euro 2021 kicks off in June.
Author's Opinion
Having endured a pretty miserable history at the European Championships (they've never won the competition), De Rode Duivels will be desperate to finally lay claim to their first Euros title this year, especially after coming so close to winning the World Cup in 2018, in the end finishing third behind Croatia and champions France.
With such a plethora of talent in their ranks and the ability to score a tonne of goals, I fancy Belgium's chances this summer and would certainly have them shorter than current 5/1 joint-favourites England in the outright betting. However, having looked at the draw, if France and Belgium both win their groups as expected they will meet in another semi-final. France knocked the Red Devils out of the 2018 World Cup and I think history would repeat itself with a younger team doing damage to an ageing Belgian Golden Generation.
Confirmed Belgium squad for Euro 2021
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mingolet, Matz Sels
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Jason Denayer, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Thomas Meunier, Timothy Castange
Midfielders: Axel Witsel, Youri Tielememans, Kevin De Bruyne, Dennis Praet, Hans Vanaken, Leander Dendoncker, Thorgan Hazard, Yannick Carrasco, Nacer Chadli
Forwards: Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi, Dries Mertens, Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard
Top Three Scorers & Shot-Takers This Season - Club & Country Combined
Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan
- Goals: 37
- Average shots per game: 2.8
- Average shots on target per game: 1.4
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
- Goals: 12
- Average shots per game: 2.9
- Average shots on target per game: 1
Dries Mertens, Napoli
- Goals: 13
- Average shots per game: 1.9
- Average shots on target per game: 0.7
Top Three Most Carded This Season - Club & Country Combined
Youri Tielemans, Leicester City
- Yellow cards: 10
- Red cards: 0
- Average fouls per game: 0.9
Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan
- Yellow cards: 7
- Red cards: 0
- Average fouls per game: 0.9
Thomas Meunier, Borussia Dortmund
- Yellow cards: 5
- Red cards: 0
- Average fouls per game: 1
Top Three Key Players
Kevin De Bruyne
Aside from Lionel Messi there is probably no better midfielder in world football than Kevin De Bruyne. The Manchester City playmaker is his club and country's talisman and will be at the forefront of things this summer. With 21 goals and 37 assists in his 79 appearances for national team, it is clear just how important KDB is to Belgium and if they are to win the Euros for the first time in their history this year, it is the 29-year-old who will be relied upon to deliver the goods. De Bruyne is second-favourite to win the tournament's Best Player award, priced just a shade bigger than France's Kylian Mbappe (10/1) at 12/1.
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku is one of the most feared marksmen in Europe right now thanks to his scintillating form for Inter Milan. The former Manchester United frontman has scored 25 goals in all competitions for the Italians this season and should enter the forthcoming Championships bursting with confidence. He is Belgium's all-time leading goalscorer aged 27, having found the net 58 times in his 90 appearances for his country, and currently second-favourite behind England's Harry Kane in the Top Scorer betting, priced at 8/1.
Dries Mertens
Napoli winger Dries Mertens has been around for years and his experience and quality will be hugely important for Belgium at Euro 2021. The 33-year-old - who has scored eight goals and provided seven assists for Napoli this term - has 95 caps for his country and his international record is sublime, with 21 goals and 29 assists to show for his efforts to date. One to watch this summer, Mertens will add firepower to an explosive Belgium front-line alongside Romelu Lukaku and Thorgen Hazard.
Young Gun
Yari Verschaeren
Belgium have a pretty old and experienced squad on the whole but there will be a sprinkling of youth involved at the Euros. The main rising star is 19-year-old midfielder Yari Verschaeren, who is a 33/1 longshot to be crowned the competition's 'Best Young Player'.
Regular minutes in the first team will be limited for the Anderlecht star with all of the quality Belgium possess, but if he does make the squad be sure to keep an eye out for him. So far he's scored once and assisted once in his six caps for Belgium, while he has scored a further three goals and assisted a further two at club level in 20-21.
Player of the Tournament Odds
Belgium's Outright Odds At Euro 2021
Belgium are currently third-favourites to win Euro 2021 at odds of 6/1, an implied percentage probability of 14.3% by the bookies.
Euro 2021 Winner Odds
-
16.7%
-
12.5%
-
10%
-
9.1%
-
6.7%
-
7.7%
-
4.8%
-
2.9%
-
2.4%
Belgium's Group Odds At Euro 2021
Unsurprisingly, Belgium are strong favourites to win their group, which also includes Denmark, Russia & Finland, at 8/11. They are an extremely short-priced 1/20 just to qualify for the knockout stages.
The Gaffer
Belgium's manager is experienced Premier League boss Roberto Martinez. The Spaniard has been in charge of the Red Devils since 2016 having previously managed Everton, Wigan and Swansea in England's top-flight.
Career Honours
- Football League One - Swansea (2007-08)
- FA Cup - Wigan (2013-14)
- World Cup Third Place - Belgium (2018)
Belgium's finishes at The Euros & World Cup - Last 25 Years
- 2018 World Cup, third-place
- 2016 Euros, quarter-finals
- 2014 World Cup, quarter-finals
- 2012 Euros, did not qualify
- 2010 World Cup, did not qualify
- 2008 Euros, did not qualify
- 2006 World Cup, did not qualify
- 2004 Euros, did not qualify
- 2002 World Cup, last-16
- 2000 Euros, group stage
- 1998 World Cup, group stage
- 1996 Euros, did not qualify
