No doubt a lot of Liverpool fans will have split loyalties when Belgium kick off against the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux on Saturday lunchtime.
Liverpool have a famously strong connection with the ‘Emerald Isle’, but tomorrow Martin O’Neill’s men go into battle against three Kopites – Divock Origi, Christian Benteke, and Simon Mignolet.
Mignolet is unlikely to see game time with Chelsea stopper Courtois firmly established as his country’s number one keeper, but Origi and Benteke could both see action.
Origi came on for the final 15 minutes of their tournament opener against Italy, though Benteke was an unused sub.
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The 21-year-old missed a couple of great chances to equalise, but his work rate and movement gave Belgium something they’d sorely lacked for the first 75 minutes.
It’s now a make-or-break game for Marc Wilmot’s team. After ultimately losing 2-0 to the Italians, they sit bottom of Group E – behind the Irish and Sweden.
Sweden were poor in their 1-0 loss to Italy on Friday, meaning both Ireland and Belgium have a great chance of finishing second and bagging an automatic place in the last 16 with a win:
Who do you think will come out on top? Let us know in the comments below…