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Euro 2016 Match Preview: Belgium vs Italy



Belgium's much-heralded "golden generation" against Italy, runners-up at Euro 2012, is arguably the most mouth-watering match of the group stage.


Both squads include household names, Champions League winners and, in Italy's case, world champions - the ideal fixture to introduce Lyon's new 59,000-capacity Stade de Lyon to international football. The venue opened in January and will host six Euro 2016 games, including the first semi-final.

Many people expect this talented Belgium side to at least reach the semi-finals. Yet their injury-hit defence is a concern.

It's the complete opposite story for Italy, whose strength remains their defence. Incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte's side scored just 16 goals in 10 qualifiers, with Southampton's Graziano Pelle top scoring with three goals.

TEAM NEWS

Belgium captain Eden Hazard limped out of training after being trodden on but is expected to be fit to face Italy.

Defensive quartet Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Lombaerts, Bjorn Engels and Dedryck Boyata have all been ruled out of Euro 2016 through injury.

Italy may start with Antonio Candreva and Stephan El Shaarawy as attacking wing-backs.

Midfielders Riccardo Montolivo, Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti were not included in the squad due to injuries.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • Belgium's sole competitive victory over Italy came at the 1972 European Championship - a 2-1 aggregate win in the quarter-finals, which were then played over two legs.
  • The two sides played out a goalless draw at Euro 1980, a result that saw Belgium reach the final and hosts Italy crash out.
  • Italy won 2-0 in the group stage of Euro 2000, a tournament Belgium co-hosted. Current Belgium coach Marc Wilmots and his Italian counterpart Antonio Conte both played in that game.
  • The two nations last met in November 2015 with Belgium emerging 3-1 winners. Goals from Jan Vertonghen, Kevin de Bruyne and Michy Batshuayi cancelled out Antonio Candreva's early strike.
  • The last five encounters have produced 18 goals, an average of 3.6 per game.

Belgium


  • Excluding 2000, when Belgium were co-hosts, this is the first time they have qualified for a European Championship since 1984 - coincidentally the last time France hosted the tournament.
  • The Red Devils reached the final of Euro 1980, where they lost 2-1 to West Germany in Rome.
  • Belgium have lost five of their last seven games at European Championship finals.
  • However, they have won their last two opening games at the tournament - against Yugoslavia in 1984 and Sweden in 2000.

Italy

  • The Italians won Euro 1968 and have been losing finalists twice since - in 2000 and 2012.
  • Italy have qualified for six successive European Championships since missing the 1992 tournament.
  • Only twice have Italy failed to progress through the group stage of a European Championship finals - in 1996 and 2004.
  • Antonio Conte's men were among four undefeated nations in qualifying alongside England, Austria and Romania. The Azzurri won seven games and drew three.
  • Italy have drawn 15 games in European Championship history, more than any other country. They have also recorded the most goalless draws with eight.

Possible line-ups

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Witsel, Nainggolan; Mertens, De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku.

Italy: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva, Parolo, De Rossi, Giaccherini, Darmian; Immobile, Zaza.
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