https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship#Group_A The U21s have been drawn into a tough group with Italy (the hosts), Spain and Poland. There they can also qualify for the Olympics, with 4 teams going to Tokyo 2020. Reportedly Musonda Jr. and Bakkali won't be back, Andreas Pereira switched to Brazil, Svilar declined call-ups and Tielemans is playing for the senior team even though he was born in 1997 (even the ones born in 1996 are eligible). This generation has yet to live up to all the hype but TBF it was always a big ask to meet the very steep expectations. It's only the 3rd time our U21s reached the EUROs. The semis in 2007 was the best result and this success was punctuated with another run to the semis in Beijing2008. Let's see how much damage the current crop can do at EURO 2019 (and hopefully Tokyo 2020).
Lukebakio, "surplus to requirements" at Anderlecht but according to Tielemans one of Belgium's best talents, is thriving in the BuLi. He bagged himself a hattrick against Bayern today. https://streamja.com/0vwA https://streamja.com/0vPA https://streamja.com/ygNg For a change Anderlecht could actually #InYouthWeTrust instead of buying another gazillion players. Of course Anderlecht have to face powerhouses like Lokeren, Eupen or Waasland-Beveren instead of Bayern.
Great to hear Dimata will be fit and is looking forward to Italy2019. There are too many exclusions already and seeing Belgium's senior squad failed to reach the NL Final 4 (instead they'll face Kazakhstan + Scotland) I'd rather improve our odds of qualifying for the Olympics and boost morale with the inclusion of Tielemans. Our U21s need all the help they can get as they'll face two top favourites for the title in the groups. Especially Spain's insanely talented squad looks scary. Walem could pick this XI (probably without Tielemans though): Best to hit teams like Spain on the counter and shamelessly park the bus (yet will Walem change his default formation?). If everybody returns to full fitness and is in form you could add most of these guys to the team for Italy2019: - De Wolf, Teunckens, et al. ... waiting on the next batch of goalies to come good TBH, it's such a shame about Svilar. - Bornauw, Bushiri, Cobbaut, Cools, Schryvers, et al. ... maybe go 3 ATB and let the wide players spring forward. - Mangala, A.De Sart, Bastien, Nkaka, et al. ... Tielemans probably won't be included even though he'd be a great addition, likewise for A.Pereira. - Manuel, Amuzu, Leya Iseka, Ngoy, et al. ... maybe there's a surprise, like Vanzeir or Verschaeren, but I doubt it. Keep an eye on: Lukebakio (having a great season), Schrijvers (the only one of "1996's big 4 talents" that can be selected), Tielemans (if called upon) and Vanheusden (has received plenty of plaudits).
Walem called up players he has trusted before. Dimata, Bornauw and Mbenza are expected to return from injury ahead of the tournament. And on 3 June a training camp friendly in and against France has been arranged. Next up: a friendly in and against Denmark on 20 March (18:30 CET)
Bednarek and Kownacki (supposedly injured) were called up for Poland's senior squad. Piotrowski (Genk) and Kapustka (OHL) received a call-up, so there are a couple of "Belgian Poles" in their U21s.
Luckily quite a few of Spain's top talents were born in 1995 and not a year later. Still they can put together a very scary team, except for the goalie. Firpo is injured and Spain still have the luxury to call up Reguilón and Caricol while leaving Angeliño and Lato out. As always an embarrassment of riches in midfield, in contrast to their striker options.
Italy's U21 squad for the games against Austria and Croatia. The likes of Donnarumma, Mancini, Barella, Pellegrini, Chiesa, Zaniolo, Kean, ... staying with the senior squad would be nice and IMO Calabria deserves to join the senior squad too Emil Audero (Sampdoria) Alex Meret (Napoli) Simone Scuffet (Kasimpasa Sport Kulubu) Claud Adjapong (Sassuolo) Alessandro Bastoni (Parma) Kevin Bonifazi (Spal) Arturo Calabresi (Bologna) Davide Calabria (Milan) Federico Dimarco (Parma) Sebastiano Luperto (Napoli) Giuseppe Pezzella (Genoa) Luiz Felipe Ramos Marchi (Lazio) Filippo Romagna (Cagliari); Francesco Cassata (Frosinone) Fabio Depaoli (Chievo Verona) Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo) Rolando Mandragora (Udinese) Alessandro Murgia (Spal) Sandro Tonali (Brescia) Luca Valzania (Frosinone); Federico Bonazzoli (Padova) Patrick Cutrone (Milan) Gabriele Moncini (Cittadella) Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna) Vittorio Parigini (Torino) Andrea Pinamonti (Frosinone)
O.Mangala has quickly solidified himself as one of Hamburg's most important players, who are challenging for the title this season. He would be a decent shout. With players missing due to injury or retirement we're going to need options in midfield too. Bobby didn't say who the 6th one was after all.
Denmark v Belgium (friendly): don't create any chances ... yet go two goals up against the run of play in the first half ... then Walem makes 8 changes in the interval ... unorganized, abysmal defending, especially by Mmaee/Bushiri, and concede 3 goals to lose the game in injury time. Jackers, Cools, Vanheusden (46' Bushiri), Cobbaut (46' Mmaee), De Norre (46' Miangue), Lukebakio (46' Wouters), Vanlerberghe (46' De Sart), Mangala (46' Omeanga), Amuzu (46' Bastien), Leya Iseka, Schrijvers (46' Saelemaekers)
Really didn't have to bother making this vid. Woeful. Just like our vacation in Italy will be, short and woeful. 🎬 This is our squad for the #U21EURO in Italy! 😀#COMEONBELGIUM 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/i0ZyUol13Q— Royal Belgian FA (@RoyalBelgianFA) June 4, 2019
1 SIVERA 2 VALLEJO 3 AARÓN 4 MERÉ 5 NUÑEZ 6 FABIÁN 7 C. SOLER 8 MERINO 9 B. MAYORAL 10 D. CEBALLOS 11 OYARZABAL 12 MANU VALLEJO 13 UNAI SIMÓN 14 ZUBELDIA 15 MARTIN 16 PEDRO PORRO 17 PEDRAZA 18 RAFA MIR 19 OLMO 20 JUNIOR 21 MARC ROCA 22 P. FORNALS 23 DANI MARTIN
https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetba...19/groep-a/01/polen-onder-21-belgie-onder-21/ Poland 3 - 2 Belgium, Schrijvers forgets to put his scoring boots on, dominate yet concede very soft goals, as expected we'll be home soon.
... and gone. Had a fair amount of chances in both games, plenty of counters against Spain, but lacked composure. Defensively, too easily disorganized and allowed goals that weren't exactly impossible to prevent. Vanheusden (and a few others) were sorely missed. Mangala, Lukebakio and De Wolf did well, De Wolf doing much better in the second game than Jackers did in the first.
Belgium are basically out after conceding a late goal against Spain (too many results need to go our way in order to advance as best runners-up). Still, if England are among the semi-finalists an Olympic play-off game will be played. Even if chances of advancing to the KO phase are slim a ticket for the Olympics could be at stake in our last group game. Belgium would need: - a win against Italy by at least 2 goals - Poland to win against Spain
Recap of the second group game (against Spain): https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetba...9/groep-a/02/spanje-onder-21-belgie-onder-21/
Recap of the 3rd and final group game (against Spain): https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetba...9/groep-a/03/belgie-onder-21-italie-onder-21/
Finito. Verschaeren became the youngest player ever to score at the U21 EUROs. And his goal was a beauty. Mangala, Lukebakio, De Wolf and Verschaeren show promise. Sadly Schrijvers was off his game and quite a few of Belgium's biggest talents were ruled out for this trny, especially Vanheusden who'll soon enough start his career as a full international.