Red Devils kick off Euro 2016 qualifiers
Euro 2016 qualifiers get underway for the Red Devils tonight, after a cancelled game with Israel earlier in the season
Andorra in Brussels tonight
After reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil last summer, the Red Devils are favourites in their qualifying group, which also includes Wales, Cyprus and Israel. The squad for the two games is likely to include Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois despite his knock at the weekend, as well as captain Vincent Kompany, Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, Chelsea striker Eden Hazard and Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgian side have yet to start their European Championships qualifying campaign, having seen their opening game with Israel postponed due to the conflict in Gaza.
Marc Wilmots has cautioned his squad against complacency, even against minnows Andorra, who are currently 203 out of 208 in the FIFA rankings. Indeed, Andorra’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Wales in their opening qualifier last month suggests that despite failing to win any of their last 68 matches (and not scoring in their previous 18), they could still pull off an embarrassment for Belgium.
Bosnia are more serious opponents but still suffered a surprising defeat to Cyprus in their opening qualifier. The sides have met in four previous games, all World Cup qualifiers, with Belgium winning the first 4-1 but losing the other three, most recently in 2009.
Meanwhile, Wilmots has revealed that German side Schalke 04, where he spent eight years as a player, tried to poach him a few days ago, but he refused.
photo courtesy vip-fit.be
