Sunday EURO2020 Knockout Round: Netherlands vs Czech Republic, and Belgium vs Portugal, a match not to miss

Sunday brings the tie of the UEFA EURO 2020 Round-of-16, with Belgium facing Portugal

If I told you that world number one Belgium was set to face defending UEFA European champion Portugal, you would probably think that contest would be a semifinal or a final at the EURO 2020.

But that is not the case, after Portugal struggled in the Group of Death to a third place finish. Now "struggled" might be a tough word to use: Portugal played France to a 2-2 draw on Matchday 3, but its 4-2 loss to Germany and 3-0 win over Hungary meant that it lost the tiebreaker to the Germans. Of course, Germany gets the unenviable task of playing England at Wembley on Tuesday, but that might actually be the “easier” of the games.

I have flip-flopped about this game and this pick multiple times, since I had Portugal going to the final originally when it was in the bottom half of the draw (now I think I like Netherlands down there.)

Belgium is really, really good, and I just think its midfield and attackers are a little bit better than the Portuguese squad.

In the first game Sunday, that Netherlands side is still getting little respect. The Dutch should be favored by much more than they are, but I am not going to complain: I will take the extra money and run.

Check Fubo.TV for schedules

UEFA EURO 2020

Netherlands (-150) vs. Czech Republic (+440), draw (+290), 12 p.m. EDT (ESPN and Fubo.TV)

Belgium (+145) vs. Portugal (+215), draw (+215), 3 p.m. EDT (ABC and Fubo.TV)

THE PICKS:

Netherlands -0.75 (-112)

Netherlands over 1.5 goals (-127)

Belgium ML (+145)

PLUS MONEY PLAYS:

Romelu Lukaku to score (+150)

Netherlands half time/full time (+160)