Martinez happy with draw: ‘We have to qualify’

Did Roberto Martinez have his favorite four-leaf clover in his pocket again this Sunday afternoon in Frankfurt? Accustomed to rather lenient draws for several years, the coach of the Red Devils can once again rejoice. “It’s a really good group”he willingly admits to our colleagues from HLN.

Austria

The main competitor of the Devils will more than likely be Austria. The selection of Madrid’s David Alaba has just finished last in its League of Nations group (behind Croatia, Denmark and France), but it has proven in the past that it has the resources to shake the big nations. Especially at Euro 2020 where she forced extra time against Italy in the round of 16 (2-1).

Sweden

Since Euro 2000, Sweden has never failed to qualify for the European Championships. However, she has been looking for a new lease of life for a few months. It has just been relegated to League C of the League of Nations. These European qualifiers will serve as the launch pad for a new era. The post-Zlatan Ibrahimovic one.

Azerbaijan

Never qualified for a major tournament, Azerbaijan, 123rd nation in the FIFA rankings, should once again pose no problems for Belgium. However, it will be necessary to be wary of the perilous trip to Baku, more than 4,000 kilometers from Brussels and in sometimes complicated climatic conditions.

Estonia

Like Azerbaijan, Estonia have never played in a major tournament. Partly because of Belgium, which has often been in its way. This is the fifth time since 2002 that the Red Devils have inherited the Sinisärgid in the qualifying group for a Euro or a World Cup. Balance sheet: 7 victories and only one defeat for the Belgians, in 2009 under Dick Advocaat.

“We have already played against Estonia, but never against Azerbaijan so it will be a noveltyreacted Roberto Martinez who is delighted to have inherited a group of five and not six. There are two teams that will go to the Euros, and we will have to face Austria and Sweden who are capable of obtaining results against everyone. We will have to do well against them, but when we are at our best, we always have to qualify.”