UEFA EURO 2020 – Belgium vs Russia Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When does Belgium vs Russia kick off? Saturday 12th June, 2021 – 20:00 (UK)
Where is Belgium vs Russia being played? Saint-Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg
Where can I get tickets for Belgium vs Russia? Click here for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Belgium vs Russia on in the UK? ITV
Where can I stream Belgium vs Russia in the UK? This match can be streamed live on the ITV Hub
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All matches: Belgium 5 wins, Russia 0 wins, 2 draws
Last meeting: Russia 1-4 Belgium (16/11/19)
THE LOWDOWN
BELGIUM
- Belgium’s golden generation know that EURO 2020 represents arguably their best chance yet of winning a major international tournament, with Roberto Martinez’s side boasting a perfect record in qualifying with ten wins from their ten matches.
- They’ll be looking to go one better than their best European Championship finish back in 1980, when they were beaten by West Germany in the final and significantly improve on their EURO 2016 campaign, which saw them beaten by Wales at the quarter-final stage.
- In midfield playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne, captain Eden Hazard and prolific striker Romelu Lukaku, Belgium boasts one of the strongest attacks in the competition, with Lukaku in particular vital to the Red Devils’ chances of success at EURO 2020, however De Bruyne is a huge injury doubt for this fixture, having suffered both a fractured nose and eye socket playing in the Champions League final at the end of May.
RUSSIA
- Russia head into EURO 2020 in decent form having lost just one of their last five international fixtures (including friendlies) and they’ll be aiming to improve on what was a very disappointing EURO 2016 that saw them eliminated in the group stage.
- They shared a qualification group with Belgium and won eight of their ten games to secure their place at EURO 2020, however both losses came at the hands of their opponents here, so they will have to find a different method of approach in this match.
- What Russia do boast is a goalscorer and Zenit striker Artem Dzyuba represents the focal point of their attack, so he will no doubt play a huge role for them having ended the season off the back of scoring seven goals in his last three games for the champions of Russia.
THE TEAM NEWS
BELGIUM
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Courtois; Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Denayer; Meunier, Dendoncker, Tielemans, T. Hazard; Mertens, Lukaku, Doku
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: De Bruyne (Injured), E. Hazard (Fitness)
RUSSIA
PREDICTED XI (5-3-1-1): Shunin; Mario Fernandes, Barinov, Dzhikiya, Semenov, Karavaev; Zobnin, Ozdoev, Golovin; Miranchuk; Dzyuba
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Despite a couple of injury worries concerning two of their key players, Belgium boss Roberto Martinez still has a quality squad to choose from against Russia as they look to start their EURO 2020 campaign by continuing their incredible form that has seen them win 17 of their last 19 competitive fixtures. Not only did Belgium score the most goals of any country over the course of qualifying, they also conceded the joint least amount, so Russia have a huge task ahead of them to get anything out of this Group B encounter. The contest taking place in St. Petersburg should have a positive impact on Stanislav Cherchesov’s men with a home crowd set to roar them on, however Belgium had relatively little trouble in beating Russia 1-4 the last time these two collided at the same venue back in 2019. When taking into account the strength of Belgium from an attacking perspective against a team who have shipped 12 goals over the course of their last five competitive fixtures, the Red Devils should come through this game comfortably, winning by at least two clear goals.
Tip: BELGIUM TO WIN WITH -1.5 HANDICAP
For fixtures, results, TV schedule, top scorers and plenty more, visit our tournament home page here!
