MX23RW : Wednesday, June 9 07:15:51| >> :120:55408:55408:

How Belgium could line up against Greece

How Belgium could line up against Greece
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Belgium could line up for their International Friendlies clash with Greece on Thursday.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez will not have Kevin De Bruyne ready for their two warm-up matches ahead of Euro 2020, starting with Thursday's visit of Greece in Brussels.

The Manchester City playmaker suffered fractures to his nose and eye socket after coming off injured in the Champions League final, although he does not require surgery and will aim to be fit for the summer's tournament.

De Bruyne's fellow midfielder Axel Witsel is also in the squad but has already been ruled out of the friendlies with an ongoing Achilles tendon issue, and Martinez is not expected to risk Eden Hazard just yet following another injury-plagued season with Real Madrid.

Thibaut Courtois will be Belgium's undisputed number one at the Euros, but Simon Mignolet could get a run-out for the friendly fixtures, with uncapped goalkeeper Matz Sels - also absent for the majority of the season - taking his place on the bench.

Martinez has plenty of big calls to make in the back three but could settle on Jason Denayer, Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen here, while Timothy Castagne ought to start on the right-hand side after starring in that role for Leicester City.

Thorgan Hazard and Yannick Carrasco will battle it out for a spot on the left, and the former may get the nod, while Leicester City's FA Cup hero Youri Tielemans could link up with Hans Vanaken in the middle.

Leandro Trossard should benefit from concerns over Hazard's fitness to start on the left, while Rennes prodigy Jeremy Doku - who already boasts two goals for the national team at the age of 19 - is likely to be given the nod on the right.

Romelu Lukaku will lead the line with aplomb when the Euros rolls around, but a friendly fixture gives Christian Benteke the opportunity to keep the momentum going from his strong second half of the season with Crystal Palace.

Belgium possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Denayer, Alderweireld, Vermaelen; Castagne, Tielemans, Vanaken, T.Hazard; Doku, Benteke, Trossard

ID:449790:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4549:

How you voted: Belgium vs Greece

Belgium
80.2%
Draw
11.7%
Greece
8.0%
162
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Conor Coady celebrates scoring for England against Wales in an international friendly on October 8, 2020
Read Next:
Combined XI: Belgium vs. England
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38275683325186
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd382111673442974
3Liverpool38209968422669
4Chelsea381910958362267
5Leicester CityLeicester382061268501866
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham381981162471565
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs381881268452362
8Arsenal381871355391661
9Leeds UnitedLeeds38185156254859
10Everton38178134748-159
11Aston Villa38167155546955
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174662-1645
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38129173652-1645
14Crystal Palace38128184166-2544
15Southampton38127194768-2143
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914154046-641
17Burnley38109193355-2239
RFulham38513202753-2628
RWest Bromwich AlbionWest Brom38511223576-4126
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3872292063-4323

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!