Belgium name 24-man provisional squad for Euro 2016

Belgian head coach Marc Wilmots has named a provisional 24-man squad for this summer’s European Championships in France, with one defender set to be dropped on May 31^st.

In an unusual combination, Wilmots has opted to name a provisional squad that consists of three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven forwards, with just six midfielders named including Premier League trio, Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) and Eden Hazard (Chelsea).

Wilmots has revealed his intention to play Tottenham Hotspurs’ central defensive duo, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen as his two full-backs, with former Manchester City, Glasgow Celtic and current Galatasaray defender Jason Denayer partnering Nicolas Lombaerts at the heart of the Belgian’s defence.

"Denayer is the replacement for Kompany to me. Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld will start in the full-back positions,” Wilmots said.

Lombaerts, also recovering from injury is expected to be out for a further two weeks with a muscle grievance, but Wilmots is not expecting the Zenit player to be in any difficulty when his side faces Italy in Lyon on June, 13.

“Nicolas Lombaerts told me today he that he has a small muscle tear and will be out for up to two weeks,” added Wilmots.

Atlético Madrid attacker Yannick Carrasco has been rewarded for his impressive form with the Spaniards this season with a place in the Belgium squad for the tournament.

"Carrasco has had a super season. He and [Divock] Origi have pace and depth in their game and that's what I like."

The most glaring omission from the Belgian squad is Tottenham winger Nacer Chadli, who is named as part of a six-player stand-by list along with Everton’s Kevin Mirallas.

Indeed, there is a strong contingent who ply their club trade in England named in the squad. Vertonghen, Alderweireld, De Bruyne, Fellaini and Hazard are joined by ‘keepers Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) and Simon Mignolet (Liverpool).

Tottenham’s Moussa Dembele, Everton powerhouse Romelu Lukaku and Liverpool duo Christian Benteke and Divock Origi join them to make up a considerable chunk of the Belgian squad.

Eden Hazard has been named captain of the team for the tournament, with his brother Thorgan, being named on the reserve list.

Belgium open their Group E account in Lyon against Italy on June, 13, followed by an encounter with the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux five days later, before ending their group campaign on June, 22 in Nice against Sweden.

Belgian Squad in Full:

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Jean-François Gillet (Mechelen), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool).

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Jason Denayer (Galatasaray), Bjorn Engels (Club Brugge), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit), Jordan Lukaku (Oostende), Thomas Meunier (Club Brugge), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Man Utd), Radja Nainggolan (Roma), Axel Witsel (Zenit), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea).

Forwards: Moussa Dembélé (Tottenham), Michy Batshuayi (Marseille), Christian Benteke (Liverpool), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Divock Origi (Liverpool).

Stand-by: Nacer Chadli (midfielder, Tottenham), Laurent Ciman (defender, Montreal), Laurens De Bock (defender, Club Brugge), Guillaume Gillet (midfielder, Nantes), Thorgan Hazard (midfielder, Mönchengladbach), Kevin Mirallas (forward, Everton), Matz Sels (goalkeeper, Gent).