Belgium, who sit top of the FIFA world rankings, join Denmark, Finland and Russia in Group B at the delayed 2020 European Championships this summer.

An incredible qualifying stage saw the 'Red Devils' go unbeaten, as they won all 10 of their qualification games.

After a 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia in which Belgium lost to eventual champions France in the semi-final stages, Roberto Martinez will hope to take his side one step further.

But, at the last European Championships in 2016, Belgium fell to a shock quarter-final defeat to Wales.

With players like Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and Eden Hazard, top-ranked Belgium go into the tournament as one of the favourites to win the competition.

1. 00:01 - 00:49 SOUNDBITE (English): Roberto Martinez, Belgium head coach:

(About the side being among eight favourites to win Euro 2020)

''We do not see it as being a favourite. We engage the opportunity to go to a major tournament and feel that we can prepare ourselves in a manner that we can compete against anyone. But I think in terms of favourites, you are looking there at eight nations. I feel, in my eyes, that anyone can win this major tournament. We are glad that our time since the World Cup has been really strong. I would say that we became a stronger side since 2018. We managed to be number one in the FIFA world rankings now for over a year. But that does not guarantee you anything. The four (semi-final) teams in the World Cup were European. You need to add Portugal, who won the previous Euros (in 2016), plus Holland and Italy - who missed out on the (2018) World Cup, and Germany. I feel that we are one of those eight nations that should be favourites.''

2. 00:50 - 01:25 SOUNDBITE (English): Kevin de Bruyne, Belgium midfielder:

(Q. If Belgium win the Euros you still have a chance of winning 5 trophies this year)

"Well that would be nice obviously, but it is so hard. You know when you start the season, you want to win everything as a player. Obviously you know with the schedule and with the level of the competition, it is really high. So I think it is already a privilege for me, as a player for my team and country, to be in the position to win these things. There are not a lot of players who have the chance to win silverware, so I am in a very privileged position to fight for these trophies. So at the end of the season we will see how many I was capable (of winning), and the team was capable of achieving. At the moment it is still zero (his club side Manchester City, have since won the English Premier League and English League Cup, with a UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea to come), so hopefully there will be a few in the end."

#Belgium #GroupB #EuropeanChampionship #EURO2020

SOURCE: SNTV / RBTV / Real Madrid TV / Belgium FA

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