Following Romania vs Ukraine, the Red Devils get their German adventure underway. Standing in the way of a perfect start for the Belgians will be the Slovaks, who may just have their sights set on an upset in Group E. Read on for our Belgium vs Slovakia predictions.
Belgium vs Slovakia prediction
For the Belgium vs Ukraine match prediction, we believe the final score will be 2-0 in favour of Belgium based on our analysis.
The Slovaks are up against it here and as much as they will likely sit deep and try to frustrate, they lack the overall quality to get a result. With lots to offer offensively, the Red Devils can come out on top without too much of a fuss.
Our predictions for Belgium vs Slovakia are as follows, with analysis provided below:
Amadou Onana Over 1.5 Fouls @ 5/4 with bet365
Ondrej Duda to Be Booked @ 9/4 with bet365
Belgium vs Slovakia betting odds
Belgium vs Slovakia head-to-head statistics
Belgium and Slovakia have previously met on three occasions. When they last faced off, back in 2013, the Belgians emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. Each of the two previous renewals ended 1-1.
Belgium vs Slovakia preview
This game is due to be played on Monday 17/06/2024 at Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt). Kick off will be at 17:00 GMT.
So much promise, so little delivered. That’s how I (along with most others) would describe Belgium in recent years.
The Red Devils have had some of the world most talented footballers over the last decade or so, and have been ranked as the world best nation according to FIFA on more than one occasion during that time, but a semi-final at Euro 2016, plus at the 2018 World Cup, is all they really have to show for it.
Could things be different this time around? Well, the likes of Moussa Dembele, Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Toby Alderweireld are all done and dusted as far as international football is concerned, but they still have a squad stacked with top-level talent, so there’s little reason why the Belgians can’t have a good tournament.
They qualified in predictably easy fashion, as they always do, but will they deliver on the biggest stage. No defeat since exiting Qatar in late 2022, winning when expected more often than not, would suggest that they’ve got what it takes to pass a relatively easy first assignment.
The Slovaks have much less in the bag in terms of top-level quality, that must be said. They no longer have the instantly recognisable and talismanic Marek Hamsik, leaving them with less else in terms of star-quality, at least in a creative sense.
They’ll likely be industrious, with PSG defender Milan Skriniar leading them at the back, while the likes of Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka can help make them hard to beat in the middle.
Recent wins against San Marino and Wales should mean that Francesco Calzona’s men go into their first Group E game feeling confident, but whether that can help them to get a result is highly questionable.
Belgium vs Slovakia Betting tips
Ahead of what is a relatively unappealing fixture from a team/general match betting point of view, I’ve settled on two attractive (at early odds) player bets.
Amadou Onana Over 1.5 Fouls
One thing on offer to manager Domenico Tedesco is options. He has plenty of options, especially in midfield, but I expect the industrious and hard-working Amadou Onana, who started both recent warm-up games, to start as one of the central players.
The Everton man wins the ball well and helps to provide a solid platform from which the more creative players can build. He also covers the ground well and can get box-to-box.
However, he is something of a liability from a fouling perspective. What’s more, in a national-team shirt, Onana is certainly no stranger to having the ref’s whistle blown in his direction.
During qualifying, despite only playing four times, partially due to injury, he picked up two yellows and a red, averaging 1.80 fouls per 90 minutes. That’ll do for me.
Ondrej Duda to Be Booked
For the Slovaks, this could be a tough game, one where they’re forced to work hard out of possession for large portions, so don’t be surprised if they give away plenty of fouls and inevitably pick up a few cards.
One player to focus on is serial offender Ondrej Duda, who comes into this tournament having had his name regularly taken by referees in Serie A last season.
A regular in the Verona midfield during the 2023/24 campaign, Duda picked up no less than 14 yellow cards, averaging a booking every 2.28 games. That stat alone makes odds of 9/4 look a little generous if you ask me.
Moreover, the 29-year-old gave away 1.97 fouls per 90 minutes for Verona last term. With his team likely under lots of pressure here, don’t be surprised if he outdoes his own average in this game.
Recap - Belgium vs Slovakia betting tips
To recap, here are two recommended bets ahead of Belgium vs Slovakia:
Amadou Onana Over 1.5 Fouls @ 5/4 with bet365
Ondrej Duda to Be Booked @ 9/4 with bet365
