Time is running out on Sweden if it wants to get into the knockout rounds of Euro 2016.
There's virtually no doubt that three points is the only route to get into the last 16 of this tournament, and that upset will have to come against Belgium, a team which needs a result to ensure avoiding a potentially epic disaster.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Sweden +425
Belgium -175
Draw +275
Over/Under 2.5 (under -130)
ODDS ANALYSIS
Belgium really only needs a point to get into the knockout rounds, and it very well could know before this one starts that its three points is enough to advance. However, if Sweden pulls off this upset and Ireland happens to upset Italy, the Red Devils will finish last in the group and be eliminated. Needless to say, this is going to be a tense 90 minutes for a team which was expected to romp through this group.
Belgium is the -175 favorite, but that's the type of spread which always is dangerous in soccer betting. It's not quite enough to feel like the win is virtually a lock.
The total is fairly average by the standards of a third match day duel in the Euros at 2.5 with -130 vig on the under.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE
The fact of the matter is that Belgium will still end up feeling pretty good about itself if it gets all three points from this game. Sure, the match against Italy was a dud, but heading into the knockout rounds with wins over Ireland and Sweden in succession would still be a good showing which can be built upon in the latter stages of Euro 2016.
The formula for Sweden is painfully obvious. Barring a lot of bad showings by teams in third place in groups over the course of the rest of the week, the Swedes can only advance from this match with a win. The team could end up ruing the moment it allowed an 88th minute goal against Italy in the second match day to ruin what would've been a scoreless draw otherwise.
LIVE BETTING
If anyone can find Zlatan Ibrahimovic floating around France over the course of the next few days, the Swedes would greatly appreciate if you could return him to their camp.
Ibrahimovic is one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, and he's going to command a pretty penny on the transfer market this summer. However, he's been a complete miss in this tournament. The Swedish players don't have a single goal to their credit yet, as their only goal was an own goal conceded by Ireland. Ibrahimovic hasn't really had one fantastic opportunity yet, and he's looked rather ordinary. Granted, he has a rather ordinary team around him, but we've seen him take over matches before against far tougher competition. He's the man who can make a massive difference and turn the fortunes for Sweden in a hurry, but in all likelihood, he's going to have to go at it alone.
QUICK PICK
It's always dangerous to bet against the Swedes, knowing that Ibrahimovic is going to be the best player on the pitch, even against a Belgian team which has top flight talent all over the pitch. However, after watching Romelu Lukaku take over against Ireland on Saturday in a 3-0 win, we just can't bet against the Belgians here.
We'll be the first to admit that it's a scary proposition, and the second Ibrahimovic looks dangerous, we might be ready to bail in live betting, but the best option here is on Belgium to recognize its talent and overwhelm a team which, short of Ibrahimovic, isn't good enough to compete at this level.
Euro 2016 Odds: Belgium 2, Sweden 1
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between Sweden and Belgium will kick off on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. ET. This fixture from the Allianz Riviera can be seen live on ESPN2.
