The door to the World Cup has just been slammed (a little too) hard, yet we like to open it slightly to the next challenge on this first day of rest. The first task of the new national coach and the (renewed?) Red Devils is fixed: next year they must qualify for Euro 2024 in Germany. An obvious one, you might think, but is that still the case after the brand new embarrassment?
3 months and 3 weeks. That’s how long the future national coach has to sand the slate thoroughly enough so that he can take on the next challenge with a clean one.
Yes, you read that right, challenge. Get used to it. Since the Red Devils were able to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, a place in the final round of a major tournament seems to have become obvious.
But the recent results of our national pride put the number 2 of the FIFA ranking on the ground. The preparation for the World Cup could still serve as an excuse for the defeat in the farewell match against Egypt, the 39th country in the world.
No more excuses in Qatar, but no convincing performance either. A difficult victory against Canada (FIFA-41) and a defeat against Morocco (FIFA-22) marked the end of the so-called golden generation.
But what does that mean? Will the Red Devils soon have to fight again in the qualifying campaigns to belong? Is another insatiable period, such as between 2004 and 2012, approaching?
Alderweireld duels Ibrahimovic during the group stage match against Sweden at Euro 2016.
Kick-off European Championship qualifying campaign: 24/03/23
It is up to the new national coach to dispel all the doubts that have bubbled up and to prove the opposite.
The first date: March 24, 2023. A European Championship qualifier against Sweden. On paper, the biggest challenger in group F. Place 25 on the FIFA ranking and present at the 6 youngest European Championships. No more Zlatan, but a new goldcrest: Alexander Isak.
The move to Stockholm is the only item on the agenda next spring, which gives the Belgian Football Association the opportunity to organize a friendly match during that period. It would already be programmed, more information will follow later.
A diptych awaits the Devils in the summer. June 17, 2023 ex-Manchester United coach Ralf Ragnick will visit with his Austria (FIFA-34). Not just a bite-sized piece, either, reminds us of our raw history with the country (that incredible 4-4 in 2010).
And 3 days later, a move to Estonia (FIFA-109) follows. That shouldn’t be a problem. Just like Azerbaijan (FIFA-123) in September, the last meeting in the first round.
The return round will already start in September, starting with Estonia. Austria and Sweden will follow in October. And on November 19, the qualifying campaign at Heysel with Azerbaijan ends. The top 2 of the 10 groups push through.
Germany 2024, here we come?
Roberto Martinez at the Euro 2024 draw.
The full program in 2023 of the Red Devils:
| March 20, 2023 | First meeting in Tubize |
| March 24, 2023 at 8:45 p.m | Sweden – Belgium |
| End of March 2023 (nnb) | Friendly international |
| 17 June 2023 at 8.45 p.m | Belgium – Austria |
| 20 June 2023 at 8.45 p.m | Estonia – Belgium |
| September 9, 2023 at 3 p.m | Azerbaijan – Belgium |
| September 12, 2023 at 8:45 p.m | Belgium – Estonia |
| October 13, 2023 at 8:45 p.m | Austria – Belgium |
| October 16, 2023 at 8:45 p.m | Belgium – Sweden |
| 19 November 2023 at 18.00 u | Belgium – Azerbaijan |
Euro 2024 is with 24 countries from June 14 to July 14 in Germany, which has been placed as the host country.
The top two of the 10 qualifying groups will qualify directly for the European Championship, the remaining 3 tickets will be distributed during play-offs in March 2024. 12 countries will participate, selected on the basis of their results in the 2022-2023 Nations League.
