Belgium will know they need to show their powers of bouncebackability when they face the Republic of Ireland in their second Group E match of Euro 2016 on Saturday. This match in Bordeaux could very well decide which team will definitely join the already-qualified Italy in the knockout rounds.
While three sides can still qualify from Group E, only two of them are guaranteed a spot in the last 16, and if Belgium, one of the pre-tournament favourites, are to be that second side, they need all three points against the Republic of Ireland.
Get the confirmed lineups HERE
"I'm expecting a tight match," Belgium coach Marc Wilmots, who came for much criticism after Belgium's woeful defeat to Italy told UEFA's official website. "The onus will be on us to take the game to them as we need the win.
"But, we must be patient, we cannot afford to gift them too much space. They are a very dangerous team on the counterattack, so we need to be very mindful of that."
There is a call for a raft of changes to the Belgium lineup and indeed thinking after the 2-0 defeat to Italy, but Wilmots believes a knee-jerk reaction is not the way to fix the problem and find that winning touch again. Belgium need to play smarter football, rather than just trying to force the pace and looking for passes that are not there, while the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne need to show just why they are so highly-rated in world football.
"I have learned over the years, and also when I was a player, that if you make decisions too quickly you can often leave a lot of space open," Wilmots added. "And if you leave space, then you're asking for trouble. It will be a difficult game for us, but every game has been difficult for every team at these EUROs."
Ireland will know they should probably come into this match with three points in the bag, rather than one, but a Ciaran Clark own goal ensured they could only draw 1-1 against Sweden. Now, Martin O'Neill's men need to show they are ready to stand up to one of the toughest tests in European football, at least on paper.
"Belgium are individually as talented as any side playing in the competition, so naturally it'll be a difficult match for us," O'Neill said. "But it's one we should look forward to. We played strongly against Sweden, we probably should have won that game but didn't.
"We've got an opportunity now to go and show the same sort of attitude, same determination and ability, and hopefully give Belgium a tough game."
Where to Watch Live
Belgium vs Republic of Ireland -- Group E Euro 2016 match -- is scheduled for a 3 p.m. local time (6.30 p.m. IST, 2 p.m. BST, 9 a.m. EST) start. Below are all the live streaming and TV information you need to watch the game, wherever you are.
India: TV: Sony Six/HD and Sone ESPN/HD. Live Streaming: Sonyliv and Watch ESPN.in.
Ireland: RTE 2.
UK: TV: ITV 1. Live Streaming: ITV Hub.
Belgium: TV: RTBF and Een.
France: TV: TF1 and Bein Sports. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
Thailand: TV: Channel 3 and CTH.
Singapore: TV: Eleven Singapore and Singtel. Live Streaming: Singtel Go.
China and Hong Kong: TV: CCTV and LeTV.
Malaysia: TV: Astro.
Australia: TV: Bein Sports and SBS One. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
Latin America: TV: DirecTV.
USA: TV: ESPN and ESPN 3. Live Streaming: Watch ESPN.
Canada: TV: TSN and RDS. Live Streaming: TSN TV.
Middle East and North Africa: TV: Bein Sports Max. Live Streaming: Bein Sports
Germany: TV: ZDF and ORF.
