The Belgium National Football Team and their ‘Golden Generation’ will likely soon part ways as most of the players who have been a part of it are aging and on the decline. This tournament arguably presents their final shot at a major international trophy.
Led by coach Domenico Tedesco, the Red Devils have one of the most stacked squads on paper. However, due to internal issues and controversies, they have not really performed at a high level in recent years except in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they finished third. Now, they will look to turn over a new leaf with this crop of players.
On that note, let’s take a look at their current squad and possible lineup.
Predicted lineup of Belgium National Football Team playing in EUROs
Belgium has boasted some of the sport’s top talents among their ranks for the last decade or so. However, this time around, they have some of their veterans, along with some young and exciting players in a competitive squad.
In goal, Koen Casteels will retain his newly-acquired number 1 spot after Thibaut Courtois spent most of the 2023/24 season out recovering from an ACL injury. He returned to action in April, but Tedesco picked Casteels as he had a full season behind him. Thomas Kaminski and Matz Sels will be backups.
In defence, Axel Witsel and Jan Vertonghen will take up the central starting berths, while Thomas Meunier and Timothy Castagne will take up the wide spots. They also have Wout Faes and Arthur Theate as backups.
In midfield, the Belgium National Football Team has several options. Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Arthur Vermeeren and Orel Mangala are solid options for the sitting role, while captain Kevin De Bruyne will play as the number 10.
Yannick Carrasco, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku, and Johan Bakayoko make up some mouth-wateringly wide attacking options, while Romelu Lukaku and Lois Openda are the options for the role of striker.
Predicted Lineup: Koen Casteels (GK); Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Timothy Castagne; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Kevin De Bruyne (C); Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Romelu Lukaku.
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Team Strengths
One of the top-ranked teams in international football, the Belgium National Football Team are one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 this summer. On that note, here are a few of their strengths:
- World Class Players – While Belgium have not always come across as a closely-knit unit, they have always had some of the best talents in the squad that can turn a game on its head. In the current squad, they have Kevin De Bruyne, who is arguably one of the best players in his position in the last few years. They also have the likes of Lukaku, Doku, and Trossard, who are all match-winners on their day.
- Free-Scoring – Belgium have scored 17 goals in their last eight games across competitions at a very healthy rate of just over two goals per game. These have come from players all over the pitch, as the system allows all their attack-minded players to thrive and get among the goals.
- Solid Defence – Despite changing personnel over the last few years, coach Tedesco has done a great job of solidifying Belgium’s back four. Currently, they have some of the most experienced defenders in the game in their backline and seem formidable.
- Versatility – Due to the uniqueness of each player’s profile, Belgium can line up in multiple different ways as the players can adapt to different roles. This could cause problems for opponents.
Weaknesses
- Lack of Squad Harmony – It has been widely known that there have been rifts within the Belgium National Football Team camp. Captain De Bruyne and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois have been at the center of a controversy that created a divide in the team in the past.
- Crumbling on the Big Stage – As seen in the past, Belgium have made great starts to tournaments but have fallen apart in the knockout stages. They will need to manage their mentality and approach to games better in order to earn tough results.
Belgium EURO 2024 Key Players to Watch Out For
- Kevin De Bruyne – The Manchester City midfielder spent the first half of the recently concluded season on the sidelines with an injury. He made his return in January and has been in decent form since then, and will be fresh and raring to go for Euro 2024.
- Leandro Trossard – The versatile forward has had a great season with Arsenal, scoring important goals at crucial moments as the Gunners mounted a serious title challenge. His ability to play in any of the three positions in the front three also makes him a unique asset to the team.
- Amadou Onana – The Everton midfielder will have the opportunity to show his mettle on the biggest stage. Aged just 22, this tournament could prove to be an audition for big clubs to take notice of his potential.
Conclusion
While the Belgium National Football Team has several ingredients needed to achieve success, their lack of team spirit may be their eventual downfall in the latter stages of the tournament.
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