Belgium will try to avoid its fourth straight shutout loss at the European Championship when it faces Ireland in the first of three group stage matches Saturday as -190 betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Les Diables Rouge opened Euro 2016 as even-money favorites to win Group E but were knocked from their perch by a 2-0 loss to Italy in their opener, sending their odds tumbling to +800 ahead of Saturday’s Ireland vs. Belgium betting matchup at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux.
The Belgians last earned a win at the Euro back in 2000, opening that edition of the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Sweden, and have since dropped three straight 2-0 decisions in tournament play.
Ireland enjoyed more success in its opener, avoiding defeat for the first time in its past five Euro matches with a 1-1 draw against Sweden.
Listed as +3300 longshots to win Group E on the pre-tournament odds, Ireland soared to +1200 following its match with Sweden but remains a heavy +425 underdog against Belgium, whom it last defeated in a 1966 friendly.
A pair of Group F matchups also are on the Saturday schedule.
Hungary will try to build on its stunning 2-0 upset victory over Austria when it faces Iceland as +210 underdogs. Semifinal finishers in its only two previous Euro appearances, Hungary paid out big in its first Euro contest since 1972, topping Austria as +425 underdogs.
Iceland has lost five straight to Hungary, but the tournament debutants are pegged as +120 chalk Saturday after containing Portugal in a hard-earned 1-1 draw in its tourney opener.
As well, Portugal faces Austria as +120 chalk on Saturday, in the first meeting between these two sides since 1995. The 2012 Euro semifinalists have demonstrated uneven play of late, following up a 1-0 loss to England with a 7-0 rout of Estonia before being stymied against Iceland while favored at +180 odds.
A pair of Group A matches are on tap for Sunday, with host nation France listed as -115 chalk against Switzerland, who look to end a five-match winless streak against Les Bleus as +320 underdogs.
And Albania needs a win to advance to the Round of 16 as it hits the field as a +300 underdog against -115 favorite Romania, who would likely lock up a knockout stage berth with a win.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images