After finishing third in the World Cup in Russia, where he offered one of the most attractive proposals of the tournament, Belgium is presented with another opportunity to make the final leap in a great event that endorses the first position it has held for three years in the ranking FIFA and fasten the title that finishes elevating a golden generation that has several of its players among the best on the planet.
For this, the ‘red devils’ under the guardianship of Spanish Roberto Martínez need a resurrection of Eden Hazard. Downcast after two calamitous seasons at Real Madrid marked by continuous injuries, La Louvière’s crack faces the Euro as a kind of rehabilitation therapy. Captain and undisputed benchmark of a team full of stars, he has always performed with the national jacket and if his physique allows him, he is called to make a difference with his refined technique.
Along with the former Chelsea, the figures of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku emerge. The talented Manchester City midfielder will set the pace with his insider vision of the game. Vertical, quick-minded and with an extraordinary ability to filter the decisive pass, the blond midfielder accumulates excellent records with the ‘red devils’ and an outstanding performance in the Eurocup would place him among the favorites for the Ballon d’Or. Inter striker will put at the service of the cause a physical power that puts any defense in trouble. He comes to the tournament in top form, after signing a remarkable year in Italy in which he scored 30 goals in 44 games with the elastic ‘neroazzurra’, to which he added seven in as many meetings with his team. When it starts it is practically unstoppable.
The convocation
- Goalkeepers
Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet y Matz Sels.
- Defenses
Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Jason Denayer, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Meunier y Timothy Castagne
- Midfielders.
Yannick Carrasco, Nacer Chadli, Thorgan Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Leander Dendoncker, Dannis Praet, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken y Axel Witsel.
- Forwards.
Jeremy Doku, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Leandro Trossard, Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku.
Under sticks Belgium has a real insurance with Thibaut Courtois. The tall goalkeeper, Golden Glove in the World Cup in Russia, where Eden Hazard was the Silver Ball, has completed another sensational campaign at Real Madrid, being decisive with his saves so that the whites arrive with options until the end in the League and in the Champions. Average 0.73 goals conceded in the 83 games in which he has defended the ‘red devils’ goal and the absences of Marc-André ter Stegen and Jan Oblak leave him as the best goalkeeper of those who attend the tournament. Among the 26 players called up by Roberto Martínez, there is also Yannick Carrasco, who has credited Atlético as an outstanding complement to any team.
Scary numbers
Present in five final stages of the European Championship, Belgium is capped at the runner-up achieved in the 1980 edition. Five years ago, in France, it was among the candidates for the title, but skated in the quarterfinals against Wales.
Fitted in a theoretically affordable group, Belgium completed a qualifying phase without blemish in which they won all ten games played and scored 40 goals and only conceded three goals. Some numbers that scare.
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