France vs Belgium Prediction: Euro 2024 Last 16 Match Preview

Neither France nor Belgium impressed during the group stage of Euro 2024; their punishment was a difficult last-16 date with each other and landing on the tougher side of the knockout draw.

While expectations may not have been sky-high for Belgium coming into the tournament, most would’ve expected them to comfortably win a Group E that also contained Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. They came second having managed just a solitary win.

France, on the other hand, went into Euro 2024 among the favourites to win the whole thing given the talent at their disposal and recent pedigree in major international tournaments. However, they also only managed to finish as runners-up in their group as surprise package Austria topped the section.

After beating Austria – some might suggest fortunately – on Matchday 1, Les Bleus were held to successive draws by the Netherlands and Poland, with the latter finishing bottom of the group.

They scored just two goals en route to the last 16, their fewest in a major tournament group stage since the 2010 World Cup (1). Furthermore, those two goals came via a Max Wöber own goal for Austria and a Kylian Mbappé penalty, having 47 non-penalty attempts without finding the net.

Granted, the only goal France conceded was also a penalty (meaning their group games had 70 non-penalty shots overall without any leading to a goal), so defensively they were shrewd enough, but performances were unspectacular.

As a result of those stalemates with the Netherlands and Poland, France has drawn five of their last six Euro matches (W1) after only drawing four of their previous 25 games in the competition (W14 L7). Their game at this stage of Euro 2020 was also one of those five draws, tying 3-3 with Switzerland before going out 5-4 on penalties.

Had they ultimately won the group, France would’ve got themselves what many would consider to be a kinder draw both in terms of their last-16 opposition – Turkey – and that they’d have landed on the other side of the knockout bracket to the likes of Spain, Germany and Portugal.

It’s also fair to say Belgium have the weaponry to be problematic, even if they are too flattered to deceive in the group stage.

The Red Devils will be appearing in the knockout stage of a third consecutive European Championship, having reached the quarter-finals at both Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. They’ve won each of their past four last-16 games at major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) since defeat to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup (2-0).

A place in the quarter-finals is the main prize on offer here, however, there are also a few milestones in sight for Mbappé.

Having netted his first-ever Euros goal against Poland, the soon-to-be Real Madrid player is just one off Michel Platini’s French record for goals in major tournaments (14). He’s also only two goals away from becoming the third player to score 50 goals for Les Bleus after Olivier Giroud (57) and Thierry Henry (51).

France vs Belgium Head-to-Head

This will be France and Belgium’s 76th encounter in men’s international football. The Red Devils are France’s most frequent all-time opponent, having faced them nearly twice as often as any other team (39 meetings each with Italy and Switzerland). Meanwhile, Belgium have only faced the Netherlands (129 times) on more occasions than they have taken on France.

Les Bleus have won all four of their previous matches against Belgium at major international tournaments (World Cup and European Championship), scoring 13 goals and conceding just three.

Their only previous meeting at a European Championship was 40 years ago; France won 5-0 in the group stage of Euro 1984 courtesy of a Platini hat-trick and goals from Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez en route to lifting the trophy for the first time.

PREDICTION: 1X + UNDER 4.5 @1.33

Portugal vs Slovenia Prediction: Euro 2024 Last 16 Match Preview

Portugal may have topped Group F at Euro 2024 but Roberto Martínez will still want more from his side when they meet Slovenia for their last-16 clash on Monday in Frankfurt.

The Seleção breezed through their qualifying pool as group winners, defeating Czech Republic 2-1 and Turkey 3-0 before a concerning slump on Matchday 3 against Georgia.

This UEFA tournament in Germany has already thrown up numerous surprises heading into the knockout rounds, no more so than Georgia’s 2-0 victory over Portugal on Wednesday. Georges Mikautadze teed up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s early opener before himself coolly converting from the penalty spot in the second half at Arena Auf Schalke.

That victory marked Georgia’s first-ever win at a major tournament and a maiden place in the knockout stages for Willy Sagnol’s men while ending Portugal’s 12-match winning streak in competitive action.

Martínez will still be confident, however, as Portugal hasn’t lost back-to-back competitive games since Euro 2008 when a 2-0 group-stage defeat to Switzerland followed a 3-2 quarter-final loss against Germany. Portugal also holds the record for the biggest margin of victory in a round-of-16 game at a major tournament, hammering Switzerland 6-1 at the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Yet their knockout form has been on a downward spiral.

Since pipping France to the Euro 2016 title in extra-time, Portugal has lost three of their four games in the knockout stages at major tournaments (W1).

That concerning record and the woeful returns of star striker Cristiano Ronaldo leave Martínez with considerations to ponder. Indeed, Ronaldo hasn’t scored in any of his last seven appearances for Portugal at major tournaments, his longest drought across the European Championship and World Cup.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has had 19 shots across the two competitions since last scoring against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, so Ronaldo can hardly blame the service received from his Portuguese teammates.

Portugal vs Slovenia Head-to-Head

Portugal may have lost three of their last four knockout games but they will fancy their chances against a Slovenia side that finished third in Group C, behind second-placed Denmark due to their disciplinary record.

However, Martínez has little to go off regarding previous experience as this will be just the second-ever meeting between Portugal and Slovenia.

Their previous clash came back in March this year, a 2-0 friendly victory for Slovenia in Ljubljana as Gnezda Cerin and Timi Max Elsnik were on target. That was Portugal’s last defeat before the Georgia loss on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: HOME WIN @1.37

Romania vs Netherlands: AWAY WIN @1.44
Austria vs Turkiye: HOME DRAW NO BET @1.40