HUNGARY stunned many by finishing top of Group F and now they face Belgium. Willie Duncan (@Willie_Duncan) previews the game for us.
Hungary v Belgium | Sunday 20:00
Hands up if you’d backed Hungary to top Group F and take their place in the last 16 of Euro 2016…
No, me neither. Bernd Storck’s side arrived in France as supposed no-hopers, but a 2-0 win against Austria in their opening group game changed the dynamic and when the Magyars benefited from a last-gasp Icelandic own goal in their second group game, Hungary already had one foot in the knockout stages.
Zoltan Gera’s sweet strike gave Hungary the lead against Portugal in their final group game, but Portugal – inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo – turned the screw and Storck’s side surely would have been beaten but for two enormous slices of luck that saw harmless shots from Balazs Dzsudzkac fly into the net.
However, I’ve got a feeling that Hungary’s good fortune is about to run out, for on Sunday night, they will face Marc Wilmots’ Belgium for a place in the last eight of the competition.
The Red Devils have often flattered to deceive and they were threatening to do it again after suffering a dreadful defeat to Italy in their opening group game, but wins against Republic of Ireland and Sweden put Belgium back on track.
The Red Devils have got a frightening abundance of quality in attack. Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard are three players that you probably couldn’t afford to stick in your Fantasy Football team together, but Wilmots has the chance to pick them all this weekend – and that’s not all, for the Belgian boss can also call upon the services of Radja Nainggolan, Dries Mertens and Axel Witsel if he wants them.
How can the Hungarians stop Belgium? I suspect that even Bernd Storck may be struggling to come up with the answer to that one – and punters should profit by backing the Belgians to get amongst the goals.
Wilmots’ men have scored two or more goals in six of their last seven victories and they’ve scored at least twice in each of their last five fixtures against Hungary.
The Magyars conceded most goals of the six group winners at Euro 2016 and 40-year-old Gabor Kiraly – a man more renowned for his jogging bottoms than his shot-stopping ability – is the main man charged with keeping the score down on Sunday.
Hungary’s adventure, surely, will be all over by the final peep of the referee’s whistle on Sunday night and Belgium will march on.
The 4/6 quotes for the Red Devils to win doesn’t do much for me, though, so, instead, snap up the juicy 21/20 on offer for Belgium to score two or more goals in Toulouse on Sunday night.
Best Bets
Hungary v Belgium – Over 1.5 Belgium Goals (21/20 Netbet)
