Finland v Belgium: What the stats say ahead Euro 2020 showdown
Belgium have failed to beat Finland in their last seven meetings (D3 L4), their last victory over the Finns dates back to October 1968, in a World Cup qualifier (6-1).
None of the last five encounters between Finland and Belgium have produced more than two goals.
Finland have mustered just two shots on target across their two games at EURO 2020 so far. Since 1980, no team has ever had fewer than four shots on target over their three group games at the European Championship.
Belgium have won their final group stage game in each of their last four major tournament appearances (EUROs and World Cup), since losing 2-0 against Turkey in EURO 2000.
Each of Finland’s two matches at EURO 2020 have ended 1-0, a win over Denmark and defeat to Russia. The only team to have three consecutive matches ending 1-0 in the same European Championship tournament were Greece at EURO 2004, who won the trophy that year.
Belgium will be looking to win 100% of their group stage games for the second consecutive major tournament (3/3 at the 2018 World Cup), while it would be the first time they have won all of their group stage games in a single edition of the European Championships.
After winning four consecutive matches in October and November 2020, Finland have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions (D2 L5), failing to find the net in three of their last four games, all defeats.
Since the 2014 World Cup, the two European players with the most assists at major international tournaments (World Cup & Euros) are Belgian pair Eden Hazard (9) and Kevin De Bruyne (8). Indeed, both players assisted against Denmark last time out, becoming the first substitute duo to both assist for the same team in a game at the European Championships since Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben in 2008 (for the Netherlands versus France).
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Eden Hazard has made five assists in seven appearances for Belgium at the European Championships, including one against Denmark on MD2. Since 1980 (as far back as we have this data), Hazard’s average of an assist every 98 minutes is the best of any player to have made at least five appearances in the competition.
Joel Pohjanpalo has had 42% of Finland’s shots at EURO 2020 so far (5/12), with no other Finnish player recording more than two attempts at goal in this tournament.