Belgium were eliminated from Euro 2024 in heart-breaking fashion as Jan Vertonghen's attempt to block Randal Kolo Muani's late strike instead led to the ball deflecting into his own goal as France eventually ran out 1-0 winners in Dusseldorf.
Domenico Tedesco's decision to switch to a 4-4-2 formation for the last-16 clash allowed the Red Devils to be more defensively sound, and they limited Les Bleus' opportunities on goal in the first half. However, Belgium struggled to launch attacks of their own as Romelu Lukaku struggled to get the better of William Saliba up front.
The game opened up slightly in the second half, as Aurelien Tchouameni tested Koen Casteels from range and Kylian Mbappe fired over on two occasions, while Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne stung the palms of Mike Maignan at the other end.
However, it was Vertonghen's own goal that eventually settled matters, as Belgium again exited a major tournament at a far earlier stage than they would have expected when they arrived in Germany.
GOAL rates Belgium's players from the Merkur Spiel-Arena...
As the tournament progresses, such detailed evaluations are crucial for bettors piecing together their betting strategies for the upcoming games. Frequent updates on Euro 2024 betting strategies, considering player form and tactical shifts, could be the key to unlocking successful bets.