Despite being in a transition phase, with the last moments of its golden generation, Belgium arrives as favorite in Group E of the European Championship, which also includes Slovenia, Romania and Ukraine, the latter participating in the tournament in a particular context, with the country suffering the Russian invasion for more than two years.
With De Bruyne, but without Courtois
Already without Hazard, Vermaelen, Kompany, Fellaini and Mertens, retired after having been pillars of the historic third place in the 2018 World Cup, Belgium continues to have remaining highlights from that generation, especially Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
Thibaut Courtois is a case in point. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was sidelined for almost the entire season due to a serious knee injury, but despite returning in the final stretch and taking part in the Champions League final, coach Domenico Tedesco chose not to call him up for the Euro.
De Bruyne, who completed 100 games for the Belgian national team last Wednesday, in the friendly against Montenegro, is, together with Lukaku and others who were at the 2018 World Cup (Witsel, Vertonghen, Carrasco), one of those responsible for protecting and guiding the young talents that are emerging, such as Veermeren (19 years old), Doku (22) and Openda (24).
Things we love to see. 😍 #WirSchaffenDas pic.twitter.com/GCy4eLFkdu
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 8, 2024
Ukraine in the hands of Lunin
Courtois’ replacement at Real Madrid throughout the season is precisely Ukraine’s main name. Andriy Lunin was one of the big surprises in the Spanish Championship and Champions League title campaigns and, now, he will have the chance to shine with his national team.
Ukraine will participate in the Euros for the fourth consecutive time, but, unlike the first three, it will arrive in a very peculiar context, with the country fighting against the Russian invasion, which began in February 2022.
To give joy to its citizens at this difficult time, the team not only has Lunin, but also players who play in the best European leagues, such as captain Zinchenko (Arsenal), Mudryk (Chelsea), Malinovski (Genoa) and Tsyngankov and Dovbyk, pillars of Girona’s historic third place in the Spanish Championship.
📸🇵🇱🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Gs9D63vfwR
— Ukrainian Association of Football (@uafukraine) June 8, 2024
Romania bets on historic names
After eight years of absence from the continental tournament, Romania is betting on historic names for the country’s football.
Coach Edward Iorganescu, 45 years old, is the son of Anghel Iordanescu, who led the Romanian national team in what is perhaps the greatest achievement in its history: reaching the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup, with victory over Argentina.
The other is Ianis Hagi, who, at 25 years old, doesn’t look like he will have the same success as his legendary father, Gheorghe, but who will be Romania’s number 10 shirt, the same one worn by the best player in the country’s history.
Another reason for Romanian optimism is the undefeated campaign in the Euro Qualifiers, but, unlike the team that shone in the 1990s, current Romania has no big stars and only four or five of its players play in the big leagues, like Hagi himself, who last season played for Alavés, from Spain.
Slovakia’s third participation
Slovakia, the team with the worst FIFA ranking among the members of Group E (48th), will make its third consecutive appearance in the European Championship, in which it never reached the round of 16 (2016).
The team does not have a great scorer, as Marek Hamsik, their main name in previous championships, is part of the coaching staff of the Italian Francesco Calzona.
Therefore, a large part of Slovak hopes fall on the team’s defensive strength, despite defender Milan Skrinar’s lackluster season at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Other names also stand out, such as Lobotka (Napoli), Duda (Hellas Verona) and captain Kucka, who, alongside Pekarik, are the last remnants of Slovakia’s first participation in a World Cup, in the 2010 edition.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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