England face Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday in the final piece of preparation for both sides ahead of the Euro 2024 squads being announced in June.
It will be the fifth meeting between the sides in just six years, and the two have traded blows on the international stages over the past few decades.
While Belgium do not have the same sort of standing as England at international level, having never won a major tournament, they have still produced some of the game's finest players, many of who enjoyed illustrious careers in the Premier League.
Here, Sports Mole compiles the greatest-ever XI of players from either England or Belgium.
GK: Gordon Banks
© Reuters
While Belgium have produced two world-class goalkeepers in Michael Preud'homme and Thibaut Courtois, Gordon Banks gets the nod for this team thanks to his 1966 World Cup winners' medal.
The greatest English goalkeeper of all time, Banks can lay claim to be in the same conversation as the likes of Lev Yashin, Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon, as a six-time FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year, and being widely remembered for his 'Save of the Century' against Pele in 1970.
CB: Bobby Moore
Lining up alongside Banks in the glorious 1966 England team was captain Bobby Moore, who remains the face of that iconic moment in English footballing history thanks to the famous picture of him holding the Jules Rimet trophy aloft at Wembley.
Moore received global adulation for his footballing ability, as he was named in FIFA's World Team of the 20th Century, and almost became the first defender to win the Ballon d'Or, but he was beaten into second place by Gerd Muller in 1970.
CB: Vincent Kompany
© Reuters
Forever a legendary figure at Manchester City, Vincent Kompany is without doubt the finest Belgian defender ever to grace the game.
Leading Man City to four Premier League titles as captain, Kompany was also at the heart of the Belgium defence that won the bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup, while an injury to the centre-back saw him miss Euro 2016, where Belgium evidently missed his influence in their quarter-final exit to Wales.
CB: John Terry
As part of the 'Golden Generation' which fell short of any success for the England national team, John Terry was still one of the greatest players of the 2000s, and one of his country's best-ever centre-backs.
Even though he could not replicate the sort of success that he enjoyed at Chelsea, where Terry won every major honour available, the defender still enjoyed individual accolades with England, such as being named in the 2006 World Cup Team of the Tournament.
RM: Kevin De Bruyne
© Reuters
Often regarded as one of the greatest Premier League midfielders of all time, Kevin De Bruyne has also been a key player in the Belgium team for over a decade, and is one of just two active players in this XI.
De Bruyne was responsible for one of the most memorable moments of the 2018 World Cup with his stunning strike in their quarter-final win over Brazil, and even though they fell narrowly short of the final, the 32-year-old remains a Belgian legend.
CM: Frank Lampard
Another member of the 'Golden Generation' which unfortunately was unable to bring the Three Lions international glory, Frank Lampard remains an all-time English footballing great.
Often partnered with Steven Gerrard, it was almost a toss of a coin to decide who took their place in this team, but Lampard's superior honours list gives him the nod between those two club legends for Chelsea and Liverpool.
CM: Bobby Charlton
© Reuters
Possibly the greatest footballer ever to pull on the red shirt of Manchester United, Bobby Charlton is also widely known as one of England's 1966 World Cup winning heroes, getting the better of Franz Beckenbauer and West Germany in the final.
While Geoff Hurst scored the infamous hat-trick at Wembley, and Moore was the captain who lifted the trophy, Charlton won the Golden Ball at the 1966 World Cup, and the Ballon d'Or later that year, forever ingraining his name in English folklore.
LM: Eden Hazard
© Reuters
The one lingering problem that persisted in the England setup from the 1990s through to the era of the 'Golden Generation' was their lack of a left-midfielder, and if they had a player of Eden Hazard's ability in their ranks at the time, another major title could have been within reach.
A third-placed finish at the 2018 World Cup is Belgium's greatest-ever achievement, and Hazard was the driving force behind it, with three goals and two assists at the finals, while seven phenomenal seasons at Chelsea saw the winger rewarded with a move to Real Madrid, but persistent injuries ruined his career at the Bernabeu.
AM: Paul Gascoigne
© Reuters
One of the names most synonymous with the England national team is Paul Gasciogne, as the flamboyant playmaker remains arguably the most popular footballer ever to represent the Three Lions.
Playing an important role in England's run to the semi-finals at Italia 90, Gazza was an all-rounder in an attacking sense, scoring and creating goals, while also showcasing flair that made him a joy to watch, while his off-field personality endeared him to England fans and the wider football community even more.
FW: Harry Kane
© Reuters
As England's all-time record goalscorer, Harry Kane deserves his place up front in this team, with 62 goals in 89 caps for the Three Lions, a World Cup Golden Boot, and a European Championship runners-up medal.
Even though Kane may have missed the crucial penalty in the quarter-finals against France at the 2022 World Cup, goals against Germany and Denmark at Euro 2020 helped England reach their first major final since 1966, and six goals at Russia 2018 also gave England fans a memorable summer after years in the abyss.
FW: Wayne Rooney
© Reuters
The man whose record Kane took was Wayne Rooney, as the Manchester United legend held the all-time goalscoring record for eight years, as 53 England goals of his own also makes him one of the greatest strikers the country has ever produced.
While the likes of Hurst, Gary Lineker, and Jimmy Greaves are unfortunate to miss out, Rooney was one of the world's best players for over a decade, and had some great moments with England, including his four-goal haul at Euro 2004 as an 18-year-old.
Combined All-time England-Belgium XI
Read more on England vs Belgium
- Click here to read our full preview for England vs Belgium
- How England could line up against Belgium
- How Belgium could line up against England
- England vs. Belgium combined XI: Who makes the cut alongside Bellingham, Rice?
No Data Analysis info
