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How Belgium will line up at Euro 2024
Belgium failed to win a major international tournament with their golden generation, but they win be hoping to fare well at the 2024 European Championship.
Domenico Tedesco’s side were unbeaten in qualifying and head into the tournament as a potential dark horse for glory.
A shocking 2022 World Cup saw Belgium dumped out in the group stages and they will be seeking revenge at Euro 2024.
READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw - Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites
Although their squad is no longer as talented as the one that reached the semi-final at the 2018 World Cup, Belgium can still call upon Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, two of the world’s best players.
Below, FootballTransfers predicts Belgium’s first-choice starting XI at Euro 2024.
READ MORE: Euro 2024 top scorers
How Belgium will line up at Euro 2024
Thibaut Courtois has returned to action for Real Madrid, and could start in the Champions League final, but Tedesco has previously stated the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper will not be included in Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad.
As a result, Matz Sels is expected to be deployed in between the sticks.
Belgium’s 3-4-3 era appears to be over, with Tedesco using a back four throughout qualifying and during the March international break.
Fulham’s Timothy Castagne and Rennes’ Arthur Theate are expected to start at full-back, while Jan Vertonghen’s partner at centre-back is one of the more hotly contested positions.
Zeno Debast started during the friendly against England, but Leicester City star Wout Faes is arguably the more likely contender at the moment.
The midfield trio is likely to consist of three Premier League stars, namely Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) and Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City). The latter will be crucial to Belgium’s hopes of progressing into the latter stages of Euro 2024.
Leandro Trossard and Jeremy Doku will be Belgium’s first-choice wing pairing, while Romelu Lukaku, their all-time record goalscorer, will lead the line.
Belgium’s starting XI at Euro 2024
GK: Matz Sels
RB: Timothy Castagne
CB: Wout Faes
CB: Jan Vertonghen
LB: Arthur Theate
CDM: Amadou Onana
CM: Kevin de Bruyne
CM: Youri Tielemans
RW: Jeremy Doku
LW: Leandro Trossard
ST: Romelu Lukaku
Belgium's Euro 2024 squad
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thomas Kaminski (Luton), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest).
Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Wout Faes (Leicester), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht).
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arthur Vermeeren (Atletico Madrid), Aster Vranckx (Wolfsburg), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid).
Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV), Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Man City), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), Romelu Lukaku (Roma), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (Leipzig).