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[monks data]
Finland national football team
European Championship | Group Stage
Jun 21, 2021 at 8pm UK
Saint-Petersburg Stadium
Belgium national football team

Finland
0 - 2
Belgium

FT(HT: 0-0)
Hradecky (74' og.), Lukaku (81')

How Belgium could line up against Finland

How Belgium could line up against Finland
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Belgium could line up for Monday's Group B clash with Finland.

As the world's top-ranked nation have qualified for the knockout stages of Euro 2020 with a game to spare, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez can afford the luxury of naming a much-changed team for Monday's final group game versus Finland.

Though they will still be keen to secure first place in Group B with either a draw or a victory, the Red Devils are set to take on a fresh look after back-to-back wins helped them cruise through successive away encounters.

Against Denmark at an emotional Parken Stadium in Copenhagen last time out, it was a typically world-class display from Kevin de Bruyne which inspired his teammates to reverse an early deficit, with the Danes having ridden a wave of emotion to surge into the lead.

Their talismanic midfield maestro - who continued his recovery from facial fractures by appearing from the bench in the Danish capital - will feature again on Monday, while Martinez has confirmed that he will hand further minutes to Borussia Dortmund's Axel Witsel and captain Eden Hazard too.

As they look to build match-sharpness ahead of a potentially frenetic coming fortnight, the talented trio are expected to make the starting XI, with Golden Boot-seeking striker Romelu Lukaku likely to be retained up front.

Though the Belgians have few fitness concerns, wing-back Timothy Castagne's campaign was prematurely ended last week, after he suffered a similar injury to De Bruyne's.

Nonetheless, they have a more than able deputy available to stand in, as Witsel's Dortmund colleague Thomas Meunier is favourite to continue on the right flank of a familiar 3-4-3. On the other flank, meanwhile, Thorgan Hazard has sustained a minor knee injury so may not be risked.

Given the circumstances, teenage starlet Jeremy Doku may also see some action in the second half, while several fringe members of the squad - such as Dennis Praet, Leandro Trossard and Christian Benteke - should all feature at some stage.

Belgium possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Alderweireld, Dendoncker, Vertonghen; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Chadli; E. Hazard, Lukaku, Carrasco

> Click here to see how Finland could line up for Monday's Group B game

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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea
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How you voted: Finland vs Belgium

Finland
11.9%
Draw
7.9%
Belgium
80.2%
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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