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HomeNewsEuro 2016: Coach Marc Wilmots Announces 24-Member Belgium Squad, Hazard Named Captain

Euro 2016: Coach Marc Wilmots Announces 24-Member Belgium Squad, Hazard Named Captain

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Marc Wilmots Belgium Squad
Photo Courtesy: Twitter – @WilmotsMarc

Marc Wilmots, the head coach of the No 1 team of the world according to FIFA rankings, Belgium, has announced a 24-member squad for the upcoming Euro Cup campaign in France this summer.

The Premier League heavy Belgium squad has as many as 11 players from the league. Vincent Kompany has been ruled out due to injury. Kompany suffered his latest thigh injury in the Champions league semi-final defeat to Real Madrid and will be seen in the sidelines for an approximate period of five months.

Among all the premier league clubs, Liverpool has the highest number of players in the Belgium squad, with the likes of strikers Christian Benteke, Divock Origi, and goalkeeper Mignolet, making it to the 24-man list.

In a press conference Wilmots revealed that Galatasary prodigy Jason Denayer has been included in the list to fulfil the absence of Kompany at the back.

However the squad will be trimmed down to just 23 man making it to the final list by May 31, the deadline day for nations to submit  their final 23-member squads, as scheduled by UEFA.

Chelsea forward, Eden Hazard will be seen wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the defensive pillar Vincent Kompany throughout the entire Euro 2016 campaign in France.

The Belgium Coach also revealed that the in-form Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld will be stepping into the shoes of Kompany and will be playing a pivotal role as the epicentre of the Belgian defence.

According to Wilmots, Kevin De Bruyne will be the one setting up chances up front and bolster the attack further.

“I think it’s essential to have three attackers,” Wilmots said to the Associated Press. “Kevin is the perfect man to hold up the ball,” he added.

The squad:

Goalkeeping: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Jean-Francois Gillett (Mechelen) and Simon Mignolet (Liverpool).

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

Midfielders: Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Radja Nainggolan (AS Roma) and Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg).

Forwards: Michy Batshauyi (Olympique Marseille), Christian Benteke (Liverpool), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli) and Divock Origi (Liverpool).

Anirban Das
Anirban Das's journey to Delhi via Kolkata involves football, music, curiosity (which one day can kill the cat) and food. Following global football opens up an infinite space within him in both the conscious and subconscious self, away from the din and bustle of the madding crowd. Supports Manchester United & Barcelona

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