Belgium having won their previous three round of 16 ties (2014 & 2018 World Cup, Euro 2016), albeit against opposition ranked 13th, 20th and 61st respectively at the time, they possess a negative overall knockout record against top-ten ranked opponents across those tournaments.
Belgium
A perfect group stage record means that Belgium have once again cruised into their fifth consecutive knockout stage appearance at a major tournament. Having won their previous three round of 16 ties (2014 & 2018 World Cup, Euro 2016), albeit against opposition ranked 13th, 20th and 61st respectively at the time, they possess a negative overall knockout record against top-ten ranked opponents across those tournaments. With four of their seven goals so far arriving in the 70th minute or onwards, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the ‘Red Devils’, but two clean sheets on either side of a gutsy comeback win against Denmark showed their championship credentials. Here, they bid to go one better than their third-place finish at the 2018 WC and make only their second major tournament final (1980 European Championship).
Portugal
Defending champions Portugal just about escaped the ‘Group of Death’ via a third-place finish, arriving at their eighth consecutive European Championship knockout stage. Their 2016 championship run has helped to boost their positive record at this stage, whilst winning three of the four knockout games via extra time, or penalties at Euro 2016 shows their collective calm in pressurised moments. With all three of their matches witnessing over 2.5 goals, Portugal have been the competition’s entertainers thus far. Historically speaking, they face favourable opposition here, as you’d have to travel all the way back to 1989 for the last Belgian victory in an H2H, with Portugal going undefeated in the five fixtures since. In addition, Portugal are one of only two teams to keep Belgium off the scoresheet in their last 58 matches – playing out a 0-0 draw in June 2018.
Belgium ace Romelu Lukaku has only lost twice when scoring for Belgium, while Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the Euro’s top goal scorer both in this edition and all time. On 109 goals for his country, he is now just one strike away from being the all-time leading international goal scorer.
Belgium have scored 2 goals in 25 of their last 27 competitive matches.