Assessing the Belgian challenge at the Euros – The red devils are back into the Euros led by a man who was also a Belgian international at the time of their golden generation. The Belgium team is blessed with some genuine young talent and can be a forced to reckon with. The red devils failed to qualify for the EUROS 2012 but since Marc Wilmots playing soccer took over the Belgium team has progressed brilliantly and is ranked as the number one team in the world.
Assessing the Belgian challenge at the Euros
Who Would Attend Euro 2016, The Belgian team had a decent campaign in Brazil two years ago where they were eliminated by finalist Argentina. The Belgian team won’t be a dark horse in this EURO as their quality is known to all and if they can forge their way out as a team then this could be their year.
Strength
The Belgium team is blessed with the services of some of the finest talents in the European football that have proven their worth over the course of years in the league football scene.
The Belgium team has the as strong, brilliant and commanding goalkeeper in the name of Thibaut Courtois. The man has been a standout performer for Chelsea for the last two years and was the reason that Peter church has to move from Chelsea that truly explains his quality. The Chelsea man will be willing to prove himself as he has gained lots of experience playing under the belt of José Mourinho and will be crucial to Belgium success.
The Belgium defense line
The Belgium defense will be led by the Tottenham Hotspur duo Toby underworld and Jan Vertonghen. They were the two guys responsible for the meanest defense in the premier league last season and Toby underworld was especially a top notch performer. If they both can form the same partnership as like they did for Tottenham last season then Belgium can deeply relax about the defense.
The midfield is where Belgium holds its best assets or I would say attacking midfield. They have two power-packed players which are two of the best-attacking midfielders in all Europe, Kevin de Bruyne and Eden hazard. Kevin de Bruyne was brilliant in the qualifying and his crosses and key passes can be deadly for opponents to deal with. Apart from those two they also have some quality midfielders that includes Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel, both of them not only are well in the center of the park but pose an aerial threat too. Yannick Carrasco comes into Euros with his red hot form and can be the best young player at the Euros.
The striker department is also a power packed for the Belgium team that includes Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke that pose a brilliant attacking threat and Divock Origi has also shown the flashes of his brilliance for the Liverpool team.
Weakness
The one good weakness that can be clearly spotted in this Belgium camp is the lack of cohesion, yes on paper they look like a team to beat with some high-quality players, but the problem is that these players don’t play too often with each other for the Belgium team and that could really go their way.
The loss of the captain Vincent Kompany can also be fatal for them was a leader for them and his absence also highlights the lack of quality in Belgium defense. Apart from the Tottenham lads, there is no standout name I the Belgium team defense.
In case Thibaut Courtois get injured, then the Belgium team has no viable and reliable option to replace him as the other two goalkeepers are very inconsistent.
Verdict – quarterfinals
That will be too harsh, but the lack of cohesion is really a problem for the team and Eden hazard also had a season to forget last year. Will France, the host, Win Euro 2016. The Belgian team is also placed in a group along with Italy that could be problematic for them if they come second in the group. If the Belgium team can reach the finals then this will be a brilliant outcome for them.