Euro 2016 Odds Update: Belgium, Iceland Betting Favorites in Crucial Matches

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