Belgium will be looking to begin the Euro 2020 tournament with a bang after feeling the disappointment with their previous exit at the quarter finals of the 2016 tournament prior the surprising 3-1 deafeat to Wales. Belgian fans will surely be hoping to make it one step further, if not all the way to the final. Some buck makers rank Belgium third favourites to win the tournament and are current Fifa World Number one. Many experts and pundits believe that they are favourites to win.
Belgium Squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet and Matz Sels.
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Timothy Castagne, Jason Denayer, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen.
Midfielders: Nacer Chadi, Kevin De Bruyne, Leander Dendonker, Thorgan Hazard, Dennis Praet, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, and Axel Witsel.
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, Yannick Carrasco, Jeremy Doku, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Leandro Trossard.
The manager (Roberto Martinez) has many talented players at his disposal with a strong squad with a strength in depth. However, a weakness to this Belgium team could be in defence as they play teams who like to play on the break as they do not have particularly strong centre halves.
Roberto Martinez
Roberto Martinez was appointed manager of Belgium on the 3rd of August. Originally, Martinez’s contract was set to end this summer. However, the outbreak of the Coronavirus results in a further extension until after the 2022 World Cup.
During the 2018 World Cup, Belgium were victorious over in the game against Brazil winning 2-1. Not only knocking out the five-time winners but also reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 1986.
The Red Devils show the class and talent they have in their team, while securing qualification by winning all 10 of the games. As a result, they will joining Russia, Finland and Denmark in Group B.
Key players for Belgium.
Boasting some of the best players in the world with the likes of Eden hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and several others.
Since signing for Real Madrid in 2019 Eden Hazard has not been in as good form as he could be. This is because of the several injuries he picked up over the season and as consequence of this he has scored only 5 goals in 59 appearances for the club over the 2 years.
Romelu Lukaku was the key man in ending Inter Milan’s 11 year wait to lift the Serie A title, scoring 27 goals and assisting 10.
Throughout the 2020/21 season De Bruyne made 25 appearances, scoring 6 and assisting 12. Overall, for Manchester City he has made 180 appearances, scoring 42 and assisting 78.
Group stages
Before considering the possibilities that Belgium may reach the final they must navigate themselves through a tricky group. Belgium’s first task is to beat Russia on Saturday 12th June at St Petersburg and is shown on BBC at 2pm. Next they face Denmark on Thursday 17th June at Copenhagen with kick of starting at 5pm on ITV. Finally their last group match is against Finland on Monday 21st June and is at St Petersburg again and is live on the BBC at 8pm.
Belgium: Predicted road to the final.
Granted that Belgium finish top of Group B they will either be facing 3rd in Group A/D/E/F which could be either Switzerland, Scotland,Sweden or Germany on the 27th June in Amsterdam. Although if Belgium win their group they will play 2nd in group A which looks likely to be Italy on the 26th June in Amsterdam.
