Die Stars
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Belgium’s showpiece is the offensive. Kevin De Bruyne (29) is the linchpin at Manchester City and Romelu Lukaku (28) Inter Milan scored 24 goals in the Italian championship. The captain, who is permanently injured at Real Madrid, also comes Eden Hazard (30) in motion, the Belgians will be difficult to stop. Hazard’s team-mate from Real is also world class: Thibaut Courtois (29) was the best keeper of the 2018 World Cup.
Bundesliga quartet
Three players from Borussia Dortmund are in the 26-man squad of the world number one. Next Thorgan Hazard (28) and Thomas Meunier (29) is also Axel Witsel (32) in spite of a ruptured Achilles tendon. Whether the six is fit enough for the tournament remains to be seen. Hertha captain Dedryck Boyata (30) completes the Bundesliga quartet.
Player to watch
The Belgian squad is extremely experienced. Indeed stands with Jérémy Doku (18) only one player under the age of 24 in the line-up. At the start of the season, Stade Rennes let the winger, who thrilled at home at RSC Anderlecht, cost a proud 26 million euros. Five scorer points in 30 Ligue 1 games were not what they were hoping for. Is it going to improve at the EM?
This is how Belgium could play
Trainer Roberto Martinez (47) has been in office since 2016 and has been relying fairly consistently on a 3-4-2-1 basic order since then. Noticeable: the offensive players often stay in front and lie in wait for a counterattack, while Belgium only actively defends with seven field players. Fire hazard for both gates.
The appointments
Belgium plays in Group B against Denmark, Finland and Russia.
Belgium-Russia (June 12, 9 p.m. in St. Petersburg)
Denmark-Belgium (June 17th, 6pm in Copenhagen)
Finland v Belgium (June 21, 9 p.m. in Copenhagen)
The 26-man squad
Tor: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Matz Sels (Racing Strasbourg)
Defense: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedrick Boyata (Hertha BSC), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Jason Denayer (Olympique Lyon), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica Lisbon), Thomas Vermaelen (Vissel Kobe), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfield: Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Nacer Chadli (Istanbul Basaksehir), Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Thorghan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Dennis Praet, Youri Tielemans (both Leicester City), Hans Vanaken ( Club Bruges), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund)
Sturm: Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke (both Crystal Palace), Jeremy Doku (Stade Rennes), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Dries Mertens (SSC Naples), Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion)
11.5 million Belgians. 26 names. 1 goal. ???????????? #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/DYK7pYPz9j
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) May 17, 2021
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