Euro 2024 group guide and best bets: Belgium
Belgium's golden generation are yet to make good on their promise. With several of their leading figures now retired, is this current crop up to competing for major honours?
Get clued up on the Red Devils with Odds Now's comprehensive team guide. which features tactical analysis, players to watch out for, predicted line-ups, betting tips and much more.
How Belgium qualified for Euro 2024
Belgium cruised through qualifying, topping Group F two points ahead of second-placed Austria and a further ten clear of Sweden in third.
The 22 goals netted by Domenico Tedesco’s side was bettered by only three other nations, with talismanic striker Romelu Lukaku finishing as top scorer with an impressive 14-goal haul across eight matches.
The Red Devils showcased their clinical edge against minnows, with 14 goals netted against Estonia and Azerbaijan respectively across their two meetings. Naturally, opposition will be much sterner this summer.
Perhaps it is better to assess them solely on their meetings with Austria and Sweden, who held them to one draw and one defeat apiece.
Belgium's squad for Euro 2024
Belgium announced a 25-man squad ahead of the tournament:
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), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht)
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético de Madrid), Aster Vranckx (Wolfsburg), Axel Witsel (Atlético de Madrid)
Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jérémy Doku (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (Roma), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Loïs Openda (Leipzig)
Belgium's predicted starting XI for Euro 2024
Belgium's star player — Kevin De Bruyne
The midfield maestro known as ‘KDB’ continues to dazzle for club and country, and is rightly renowned as one of — if not the best — players in world football.
Despite an injury-hit first half of the season, De Bruyne bounced back to help Manchester City record an historic fourth consecutive Premier League title, while also reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and an FA Cup final.
Though he only made 26 appearances this term, the 32 year-old still managed to rack up a staggering 18 assists across all competitions in City colours.
Blessed with exquisite vision and other-worldly passing ability, De Bruyne’s capabilities to wreak havoc beyond defensive lines is second to none.
He is also a master from set-pieces and can dictate matches in a way few have managed before, with his service undoubtedly leaving star marksman Romelu Lukaku foaming at the mouth.
With Eden Hazard now retired, De Bruyne takes up the mantle as the key creative force for his country and will look to enhance his own legacy with a dominant showing in Germany.
Belgium's one to watch — Johan Bakayoko
After a breakthrough season in the Eredivisie which he ended with a league winners medal around his neck, Johan Bakayoko has already established himself as a key cog at international level.
The 21 year-old PSV starlet has featured in 10 of his country’s last 12 matches, including seven of their eight qualifiers, bagging his first goal for Belgium in a 3-0 away win at Estonia.
With electrifying pace and a love for cutting in from the right flank onto his stronger left foot, it’s easy to see why the winger is reportedly drawing interest from European big-hitters like Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.
His 14 goals across all competitions proves how much of a threat he is in front of goal, but Bakayoko hasn’t just limited himself to finishing off chances.
He also boasts an impressive 14 assists this season, forming an integral part of a free-scoring PSV side who blitzed an outstanding 111 league goals across the entirety of their league campaign.
If his form this season is anything to go by, Bakayoko could be about to establish himself as one of the brightest emerging talents across the continent.
Belgium's manager - Domenico Tedesco
Italian coach Domenico Tedesco is yet to manage at a major tournament heading into the summer but is buoyed by a wealth of managerial experience acrued across the continent.
Despite only being in his seventh year as a boss Tedesco has already been in charge at major European clubs such as Schalke 04, Spartak Moscow and, most recently, RB Leipzig.
A DfB Pokal win in Germany remains his sole trophy to date as a coach, though Tedesco has impressed since taking over the Red Devils back in February last year.
Belgium are yet to lose a game under his tutelage, winning eight of the 11 he has overseen since taking the reins. His offensive style also seems a great fit for a squad brutally strong in attack but suspect in defence.
Tedesco’s contract is set to expire at the end of this tournament, though a positive showing this summer will surely lead to an extension as the country finally looks to assert itself on the continental stage.
Belgium's Euro 2024 betting odds
Belgium to win Euro 2024 - 22/1
Belgium to reach the Euro 2024 final - 8/1
Belgium to win Group C - 4/7
Belgium top goalscorer - Romelu Lukaku 10/11, Kevin De Bruyne 6/1, Leandro Trossard 10/1, 12/1 BAR
*All best UK prices as of 30/05/24
Analysis and best bets for Belgium at Euro 2024
Expert analysis from Odds Now's Bradley Walker:
“If Belgium harbour any ambitions of threatening during the tournament’s latter stages, they must emerge from Group E in comfortable fashion.
"Their goalscoring record in qualifying was impressive and providing key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku remain fit, Tedesco’s men’s can continue to find the target at will in their early fixtures.
"However, the further they progress throughout the tournament, the more likely their defensive frailties will be exposed against the better sides. Simply put, their backline looks some way short of a tournament-winning one.
“Coming in at a best of 4/7 to top Group E, Belgium are highly liked to emerge from the group stage unscathed. However, a first-place finish will likely leave them on the same side of the draw as tournament favourites England and France.
"The Belgians are as good as anyone going forward, but their vulnerability at the back cannot be ignored. Ultimately, I expect the greater class of the elite sides to shine through should they come up against this unbalanced outfit.
"Still, a favourable group means both Lukaku and De Bruyne are worth getting on side in individual performance markets."
Brad’s Best Bets
Romelu Lukaku top goalscorer - 20/1 (PaddyPower)
Kevin De Bruyne most assists - 18/1 (Quinn Bet)