Game Preview: Belgium vs. Romania
Belgium: Belgium’s 1-0 defeat to Slovakia in their Euro 2024 opener was a surprising setback. Ranked significantly higher than Slovakia, Belgium struggled to break down their opponents despite dominating possession. Romelu Lukaku had two goals disallowed, highlighting Belgium’s ongoing issues in front of goal. Coach Domenico Tedesco will need to address these scoring woes as his team aims to bounce back. Historically, Belgium’s finishing has faltered in major tournaments, with their last 47 shots in such competitions failing to find the net.
Romania: Romania started their Euro 2024 campaign impressively, defeating Ukraine 3-0. Captain Nicolae Stanciu’s spectacular goal was the highlight of a dominant performance. Romania, looking to win more than one match in a single European Championship for the first time, will be confident facing Belgium. Coach Edward Iordฤnescu’s side has shown resilience and effectiveness in recent games, making them a potential threat to Belgium’s defense.
Key Stats & Insights:
- Belgium have failed to score with any of their last 47 shots in major international tournaments.
- Romania aims to win more than one match at a single edition of the European Championship for the first time.
- Both teams have scored in five of the last seven head-to-heads.
- Romania has won three of their last five games against Belgium, each by a single-goal margin.
Team Form and Performance
Belgium โ Last 10 Competitive Games:
- Record: 6 wins, 1 loss, 3 draws
- Average Goals: 2.2
- Average Attempts: 12.5
- Average Possession: 57.5%
- Top Scorer: Romelu Lukaku (14 goals)
- Key Player: Jeremy Doku (4 assists)
- Defensive Stats: Conceding 0.5 goals per game
Romania โ Last 10 Competitive Games:
- Record: 6 wins, 4 draws
- Average Goals: 1.7
- Average Attempts: 10.9
- Average Possession: 49.4%
- Top Scorer: Nicolae Stanciu (4 goals)
- Key Player: Olimpiu Morutan (3 assists)
- Defensive Stats: Conceding 0.5 goals per game
Head-to-Head Records:
- This will be the first meeting between Belgium and Romania at a major tournament.
- Romania won their last encounter 2-1 in a 2012 friendly.
- Belgium’s only win in their last five meetings with Romania came in 2011 (2-1 friendly).
Player Form and Availability:
Belgium (4-2-3-1 Formation):
- Goalkeeper: Koen Casteels
- Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Wout Faes
- Midfield: Leandro Trossard, Amadou Onana, Orel Mangala, Kevin De Bruyne
- Forward Line: Yannick Carrasco, Jeremy Doku, Romelu Lukaku
Romania (4-3-3 Formation):
- Goalkeeper: Florin Nita
- Defenders: Andrei Ratiu, Andrei Burca, Radu Dragusin, Nicusor Bancu
- Midfielders: Marius Marin, Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin
- Forwards: Dennis Man, Florinel Coman, Denis Dragus
Market Analysis (Odds):
- Belgium to Win: 1.48 (68% implied probability)
- Romania to Win: 6.50
- Over 2.5 Goals: Market leader
- Both Teams to Score: Yes at 1.83, No at 1.91
Predictions:
Belgium 2, Romania 0
Belgium’s quality and experience should see them overcome Romania, despite recent struggles in front of goal. Belgium’s defensive strength, combined with Romania’s challenge in breaking down top-tier defenses, suggests a likely clean sheet for Belgium.
Betting Tip: Back “No” on Both Teams to Score (BTTS) at 1.83, anticipating Belgium to secure a clean sheet while scoring at least once.