Euro 2020: Denmark vs. Belgium betting odds, preview, and pick

The two favorites to advance from Group B of Euro 2020 will square off on Thursday, June 17 as Denmark and Belgium face each other in Copenhagen.

Belgium is favored to win the match with a low-scoring tilt anticipated.

How will the Danish players respond without Eriksen?

Denmark was upset 1-0 by Finland on Saturday, but nobody can fault them with the emotional events that took place on the day. After seeing Christian Eriksen collapse from cardiac arrest on the pitch, they were forced by UEFA to return to action just two hours after the match was halted.

It was clear their hearts and heads weren’t into the match, as keeper Kasper Schmeichel made an uncharacteristic error to allow the goal on Finland’s only shot of the match. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg later took a very lackluster penalty which was easily saved.

Now they enter the match with Belgium knowing their friend and teammate is doing fine and in good spirits, but still have to deal with the emotional toll the match took on them. Playing in Copenhagen will help as they will have their fans to spur them, but it might not be enough.

Unlike Finland, the Danes will have to defend quite stoutly against a high-powered Belgian attack. They will get chances to counter-attack, but without Eriksen it will be much tougher to pick apart the three-man back line for the visitors. With a loss already in their pocket, Denmark will be looking to salvage a draw and get a crucial point towards qualifying for the knockout rounds.

The Belgians hope to lock up the group with a win

Speaking of their attack, Belgium found the scoresheet just 10 minutes into their opening match with Russia as in-form striker Romelu Lukaku easily buried a chance when a defender played the ball to him inside the penalty area. After a brilliant goal from Thomas Meunier made it 2-0 later in the half, Lukaku sealed the points when he finished a ball from Meunier with two minutes left in regulation.

Belgium now look to get a second win and essentially secure the top spot in the group, allowing them to rest players on Matchday Three and prepare for the knockout rounds. There may be little rotation in the squad, but reports state that Eden Hazard might replace Yannick Carrasco on the left wing. Timothy Castagne will miss the match after leaving with a head injury, but there is a possibility that both Axel Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne might be fit for the match.

The one thing to keep an eye on with Belgium is jet lag. They played their first match in Russia, and have flown back to Copenhagen for this match. Fatigue could be an issue with the lineup seeing little rotation.

Denmark vs. Belgium Trends

Belgium have won their last 11 matches in non-friendly matches, and have been leading at both halftime and full time in all 11. They have also scored at least two goals in all 11 of those matches. There have been at least three goals scored in eight of those matches as well.

Belgium have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four matches. Denmark have kept clean sheets in four of their last six matches, and have won nine of their last 12 outings.

In the last three meetings between Belgium and Denmark, at least two goals have been scored in each one. This includes a 4-2 win by Belgium in their last meeting in 2018.

While Denmark will put up more of a fight defensively than Russia did, they will not be able to keep Belgium off the scoresheet. Lukaku might not be the one to find the back of the net given the size and strength in the Danish back line, but Dries Mertens partnered with him to score offers solid value given his shiftiness and dribbling ability.

Look for Belgium to win the match while keeping a clean sheet, as the drained Danes see their hopes of advancing slip further away from their grasp.

Euro 2020 picks: Belgium to win to nil (+245), and Lukaku or Mertens to score (-118)

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