2020 UEFA Euro Group B Betting
The No. 1 ranked team in the world in April 2021 headlines Group B at EURO 2020. Belgium is hoping to finally break through and win its first major international tournament. The Red Devils made it to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, but they suffered a stunning loss at the last Euros to Wales. Anything less than a trip to the semifinals of this competition will be a disappointment as Belgium is one of the favorites to win its first European Championship.
2020 UEFA Euro Betting Odds
UEFA Euro Group B Country Profiles
Belgium
FIFA Ranking: 1
Best Finish: Runner-up (1980)
Belgium was the most impressive team in European qualifying. The Red Devils won all 10 of their games, outscoring opponents 40-3 in the process. They were in the same group as Russia, and they hammered Russia 4-1 in St. Petersburg and 3-1 at home.
The small country of just over 10 million people has a golden generation headlined by Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku. Belgium can score with any country in the world as we saw at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, the back line is aging as centerpieces Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are both on the wrong side of 30.
Denmark
FIFA Ranking: 12
Best Finish: Champions (1992)
The only team that Denmark has lost to since 2016 is Belgium. The Danes were beaten by two goals both times they faced Belgium in the Nations League, but they have eight wins and a draw in their other nine games since the start of 2020. Denmark knocked off England, Iceland, Sweden, Austria, and Israel in this stretch, and they posted clean sheets against each of those teams.
Defense will be the key to Denmark’s Euro hopes, much like it was in 1992. The Danes became the most improbable winners of this tournament (until Greece won in 2004) that year. Denmark allowed just four goals in six matches on its way to upsetting Germany in the finals.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is still playing at a high level. Skipper Simon Kjaer is the leader of the back line, while Christian Eriksen is the playmaker in the midfield. Eriksen can do enough with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Yussuf Poulsen to make Denmark a serious threat at this tournament.
Russia
FIFA Ranking: 39
Best Finish: Champions as Soviet Union (1960); Semifinals as Russia (2008)
This is a much different Russian team than we saw at the 2018 World Cup. Manager Stanislav Cherchesov has turned over most of the roster, but they qualified for the Euros with two wins over every team in their group except Belgium.
Captain Artem Dzyuba will be the main scoring threat up top with 29 goals in 50 caps, while Aleksandr Golovin is the talisman. Golovin was one of the breakout stars of the last World Cup, and his best years are still ahead of him. However, there isn’t much else to be excited about on this team, especially in the back end.
Finland
FIFA Ranking: 55
Best Finish: First appearance
Finland will be making its debut at the European Championships this summer. The Finns beat out Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina to finish behind Italy in Group J with a 6-0-4 record. They are one of the nations taking advantage of the expanded field, and they could make some noise in their debut.
The Eagle-Owls have a forward that can pour in goals in Teemu Pukki. Pukki has netted 65 goals in 115 matches with Norwich City since moving to English football three years ago. He is three goals away from surpassing Jari Litmanen as Finland’s all-time leading scorer.
Group B Schedule
GROUP STAGE
Saturday June 12
Denmark vs. Finland (Copenhagen; noon ET, 6 p.m.)
Belgium vs. Russia (Saint Petersburg; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
Wednesday June 16
Finland vs. Russia (Saint Petersburg; 9 a.m. ET, 3 p.m.)
Thursday June 17
Denmark vs. Belgium (Copenhagen; noon ET, 6 p.m.)
Monday June 21
Russia vs. Denmark (Copenhagen; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
Finland vs. Belgium (Saint Petersburg; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
*Top two in each group plus four best third-placed teams advance
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