The quarterfinal stage continues at the Euro 2016 tournament in France on Friday, July 1st with Wales battling it out against Belgium in Lille. The winning country will carry on to the final four while the loser will be packing their bags and heading home. If the game is even after 90 minutes it will go to 30 minutes of extra time. If it’s still tied, it will then be decided by a penalty shootout. Both Wales and Belgium are seeking their first European Championship.
Belgium vs Wales – bet365 Soccer Betting Line:
- Pinnacle currently lists Belgium as the favorite to win in 90 minutes at -133 with Wales +493 and a draw at +256
Belgium vs Wales – Head to Head:
- Wales and Belgium were in the same Euro 2016 qualifying group. Their last meeting was in June of 2015 with Wales winning 1-0 at home. They also met in Belgium the previous November and played to a 0-0 draw. They also played each other in 2014 World Cup qualifying and drew 1-1 in Belgium with Belgium winning 2-0 in Wales. The two sides have met just 12 times in the past with Belgium winning five, losing four and drawing the other three. Hungary’s last win was in November of 1958 when they took a 3-1 decision at home. Wales is unbeaten in the last three but have lost four of the last seven.
Belgium – A Closer Look:
Belgium is currently ranked number two in the world by FIFA. They played in Group E in the first stage of the event against 12th-ranked Italy, 33rd-ranked Republic of Ireland and 35th-ranked Sweden. Belgium finished level with Italy on six points from two victories and a defeat. However, Italy won the head-to-head meeting to guarantee first place. Belgium finished the group stage with four goals scored and two allowed.
They dropped their opening encounter 2-0 to Italy before downing Ireland 3-0 in their second game with all three goals in the second half. The Belgians then clinched a berth in the round of 16 with a 1-0 win over Sweden on a late goal. The Belgians then dominated Hungary on the scoreboard with a 4-0 triumph in their round-of-16 match last Sunday with three late second-half goals. This is the farthest Belgium has gone in a European Championship since Euro 1980. Belgium hasn’t allowed a goal against since their opening contest and seven different players have scored their eight goals so far.
Wales – A Closer Look:
The Welsh side is currently ranked number 26 in the world by FIFA. The team competed in Group B in the group stage and managed to advance to the knockout round by placing first ahead of England, Slovakia and Russia. Wales took the group with six points from two wins and a loss while scoring six goals and allowing three against. Gareth Bale scored a goal in each of the three games and has three in the event. Wales opened their tournament with a 2-1 win over Slovakia thanks to a second-half goal.
The Welsh held an early 1-0 lead over England in their second match, but England tied it early in the second half. Wales then sat back and paid for it as England scored in the third minute of injury time to win 2-1. Wales was on a mission in their final contest and dominated Russia to the tune of 3-0. They then took on Northern Ireland in the round of 16 last Saturday and won on a late own goal. This is the first time a Welsh squad has made it to the European Championships and it’s their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Belgium vs Wales – Takeaway:
The winner of this match will take on the winner of the Poland vs Portugal contest which is being held the previous day. The winners will then meet on Wednesday, July 6th in Lyon in the first semifinal.
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by Ian S. Palmer