Just after 6 pm, the Belgian promises know their opponents, because the draw for the European Championship U21 of 2023 will be held in Bucharest today. And that tournament can become important. Why and with which players can Belgium participate in that European Championship? We answer these questions for you.
Where and when will the European U21 Championship take place?
Next year, the European Championship for promises is scheduled after the regular football season, during the months of June and July. The group stage will start on June 21, the final is scheduled for July 8.
Romania and Georgia are the organizing countries. The opening match is for Romania, the final will take place in Georgia, which itself will participate for the first time in the European U21 Championship.
Why is this European U21 Championship so important?
The European U23 Championship is traditionally of great importance in view of the Olympic Games. The tickets for the Olympic football tournament are awarded on the basis of this European Championship. The European U21 Championship is organized every 2 years, and the Olympic tickets are handed out every 4 years.
The last time Belgium played soccer at the Games was during the 2008 edition in China. The Golden Generation of Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini and Mousa Dembélé, among others, showed themselves for the first time on the big stage.
The top 3 of the European U21 Championship can expect an invitation to Paris 2024. Exceptions to this are France, which has already been placed as the host country of the Games, and England, which can only participate in the Games as Great Britain.
Because there is no agreement on this between the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, England cannot qualify through this European Championship.
Those who can qualify through this route are the Belgian promises. So make sure to note the draw for the group stage of the European Championship U21 in your agenda tonight, which can be followed via livestream on this site. The Belgians are placed in pot 3.
Which Belgian players are eligible for the European Championship U21?
In the most recent selection of the promises last month, we find many well-known names who are making good weather at home and abroad.
Maarten Vandevoordt (KRC Genk), Koni De Winter (Empoli), Hugo Siquet (SC Freiburg), Yari Verschaeren and Marco Kana (both RSC Anderlecht), Aster Vranckx (AC Milan), Yorbe Vertessen (PSV), Jérémy Doku ( Stade Rennes) and Largie Ramazani (Almeria) are certainly no strangers to the general public.
In theory, Jacky Mathijssen can also add Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan), Arthur Theate (Stade Rennes), Loïs Openda (RC Lens), Amadou Onana (Everton), Zeno Debast (RSC Anderlecht), Roméo Lavia (Southampton) and Michel- Select Ange Balikwisha (Antwerp).
The question is how grueling the season has already been for these players, as the European Championship kicks off after a long and tough year, possibly including the World Cup in Qatar. The chance seems small that we will see De Ketelaere at work for both the Red Devils and the U21.
How did Belgium qualify?
The Belgians secured themselves in the qualifications as the very first country of the group stage of the European Championship, after the two automatically qualified host countries.
The boys of national coach Jacky Mathijssen won group I with Denmark, Turkey, Scotland and Kazakhstan. None of these countries managed to qualify for the final phase of the European Championship.
