Published 12:21 IST, October 12th 2019
Euro 2020 Qualifiers: Mighty Belgium take on minnows Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan host Roberto Martinez's Belgium in the Group I Qualifier. Belgium have already booked their spot in the competition. Kazakhstan fail to qualify.
Kazakhstan host Belgium at the Astana Arena for the Euro 2020 Group I qualifier on Sunday. Roberto Martínez's men are riding the crest of a wave, fresh off inflicting a 9-0 drubbing on San Marino. Kazakhstan have failed to register a win in their last three qualifiers, with a draw away at Cyprus followed by defeats against Russia and Cyprus. Belgium have conceded just one goal in seven matches. Kazakhstan, meanwhile have shipped in 11 goals in their last seven and sit 4th in the table, three points behind third-placed Cyprus. Meanwhile, Belgium became the first team to guarantee their qualification through to Euro 2020, courtesy of the 9-0 win over San Marino.
De Bruyne left out
Manchester City's Belgian wizard, Kevin de Bruyne has been left out of the squad owing to a groin injury sustained during Manchester City's 3-1 away win at Everton. Roberto Martínez will be looking to tweak his defense to make it a little tighter. The 3-4-3 formation employed by the Spaniard in recent fixtures has lent some balance to the team, but Belgium will find themselves tested against better opponents. Belgium are in red-hot form in the Euro 2020 Qualifiers. Eden Hazard and co have scored a total of 28 goals in the Qualifiers and have conceded just one goal in their last seven. Seven wins out of seven games so far means that the Belgians sit comfortably on top of Group I.
Inter Milan's club record €80 million signing Romelu Lukaku is the top scorer for the Belgians, having netted six goals in four games. Lukaku scored two of his six goals in the 9-0 drubbing of San Marino on Friday. Real Madrid's Eden Hazard is second on the goalscoring list for the Belgians, with the former Chelsea winger having netted three goals in the qualifiers so far. Napoli forward Dries Mertens ran rings around the Kazakhstan defence in their last encounter. Mertens produced a man-of-the-match display, as he scored one and set up two goals during Belgium's 3-0 win. Kazakhstan have failed to win in their last three encounters with the Belgians. Moreover, Belgium have conceded just one goal against the Kazaks in their last three encounters, having scored nine goals during their previous three meetings. Unfortunately, even an unlikely win against the mighty Belgians will count for little, as Kazakhstan have failed to qualify through Group I. This means that Michal Bilek’s will not be participating in the Euro 2020 tournament.
Euro 2020 qualifiers: Predicted line-ups
Belgium (3-4-3) Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Castagne, Vanaken, Tielemans, Chadli; Mertens, Lukaku, Eden Hazard
Kazakhstan (3-4-2-1) Nepogodov; Erlanov, Malyi, Marochkin; Vorogovsky, Pertsukh, Abiken, Suyumbayev; Kuat, Islamkhan; Zhangylyshbay
Updated 16:08 IST, October 12th 2019