According to FIFA ranking, Belgium is ranked the highest in Europe. The European Championships started this Friday, 10 June, 2016 in France. Belgium topped the listing for four months until April, before relinquishing their position to Argentina. World Cup winners Germany, the next highest European side, are only in the fourth, while Spain, winners of Euro 2012, are sixth. Therefore, if we go by this ranking, it therefore goes to say the Belgian team are favourites to win the European Championship in Paris.
Players to watch out are Kevin De Bruyne, Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld and the other Red Devils who have shown talents in their various clubs. Would the Red Devils leave up to the expectation of FIFA ranking? The devils since they were knocked out of the World Cup quarterfinals by Argentina two years ago in Brazil haven’t faced a serious test in football.
On 13 June, the Red Devils will line -up against Italy in their opening match in Lyon. Italy, four-time World Cup winners, have the experience to raise their game in these events, and they could quickly puncture Belgium’s hopes. It is BaretaNews hopes that the Red Devils squashes the boys from Italy to victory. Belgium has the know-how to win this championship, but it will take much commitment and team spirit from all actors on the field. The players must be seen to put in everything they did in their respective clubs, especially the top players such as Hazard, Lukaku, De Bruyne etc
De Bruyne is expected to be the key player and team up front with captain Hazard. Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, Napoli’s Dries Mertens and Liverpool’s Christian Benteke are other power houses that could cause havoc in the defenses of the opposing team.
However, BaretaNews noted that the greatest worries would be the defence where Vincent Kompany’s injury rules him out, Zenit Saint Petersburg’s Nicolas Lombaerts and Celtic’s Dedryck Boyata are also on the sidelines. This will mean 20-year-old Jason Denayer of Manchester City and Barcelona’s Thomas Vermaelen. Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen would be available to replicate their fine Tottenham partnership, where they conceded only 27 goals in 29 league games.
Football pundits suggest that the current breed of Belgian team is so spiced with talents that they are the favourites to win the Championship.
