90min

Belgium name 26-player squad for Euro 2020

By Jamie Spencer

Belgium's golden generation are running out of time to deliver but will be among the favourites at Euro 2020
Belgium's golden generation are running out of time to deliver but will be among the favourites at Euro 2020 / Isosport/MB Media/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Belgium have named their 26-player squad for Euro 2020, with the world’s number one ranked team hoping to win their first major international trophy before the golden generation fades.

UEFA recently agreed to temporarily increase permitted squad size for the tournament from the usual 23 up to 26 in light of the extra physical demands on players this season.

Roberto Martinez was able to name a bigger final squad than usual
Roberto Martinez was able to name a bigger final squad than usual / Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images

Belgium were among the favourites for Euro 2016, only to be stunned by Wales in the quarter finals. They then finished third at the last World Cup and are again tipped for glory this summer.

There are no real surprises in the squad selection, which has been made easier for manager Roberto Martinez thanks to the ability to name three extra players than normal.

Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku head into the tournament off the back of fine club seasons, while Eden Hazard will hope his fitness doesn’t let him down. This could well be a last chance at this level for defensive trio Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen and Toby Alderweireld.

Romelu Lukaku has had a good season with Inter
Romelu Lukaku has had a good season with Inter / Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images

26-player Belgium squad for Euro 2020

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Matz Sels (Strasbroug)

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Hertha Berlin), Jason Denayer (Lyon), Thomas Vermaelen (Vissel Kobe), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica), Timothy Castagne (Leicester), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Leander Dendoncker (Wolves), Dennis Praet (Leicester), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Nacer Chadli (Istanbul Basaksehir), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Crystal Palace), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), Romelu Lukaku (Inter), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Leandro Trossard (Brighton)

Belgium will play their opening Group B match against Russia in Saint Petersburg on 12 June, followed by further fixtures against Denmark in Copenhagen and Finland back in Saint Petersburg on 17 June and 21 June respectively.

The top two countries in each group will qualify automatically for the last 16, with the four best third placed teams also progressing to the knockout stages.

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Home/Euro 2020