Euro 2020 Group B preview: Can Belgium's golden generation deliver trophy?

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku, center, vies for the ball with Denmark's Simon Kjær, right, and Joakim Mæhle during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Denmark at the King Power stadium in Leuven, Belgium, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (Francisco Seco/AP)

There is a lot of intrigue in Group B at Euro 2020. Having reached the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, Belgium will be hoping its most loaded squad in a generation can finally reach the pinnacle of a major tournament, but it won't be easy.

While Belgium handled Russia prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Denmark has proven to be a tricky side to overcome in recent competitions, while the debuting Finland is a sneaky pick for an upset.

Here is how Group B shapes up entering the tournament.

BELGIUM

Coach: Roberto Martinez

Roster:

Possible starting XI:

3-4-3: (GK) Courtois – (D) Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen – (M) Meunier, Tielemans, Dendoncker, Hazard – (F) Mertens, Lukaku, De Bruyne

SCHEDULE

June 12, 3 p.m. ET: vs. Russia
June 17, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Denmark
June 21, 3 p.m. ET vs. Finland

ODDS

To win group: -135
To win tournament: +600

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Most important player: Romelu Lukaku. The Inter striker is arguably the most in-form No. 9 entering the Euros, and with chemistry throughout the squad, he can easily pick up where he left off in Serie A.

Breakout player to watch: Youri Tielemans. Somehow, the 24-year-old remains one of the Premier League's most underrated midfielders. That perception should change if he has a breakthrough performance at Euro 2020.

Biggest strength: The attack. Lukaku, De Bruyne and Mertens aren't even the only threats. Eden Hazard is capable of shaking off his poor form at Real Madrid to deliver in a big game if the Red Devils require it, while 19-year-old Jeremy Doku is a tricky winger who's turned heads in Ligue 1.

Biggest weakness: Lack of left-footed centre-backs. Roberto Martinez's only left-footed centre-back options are 34-year-old Jan Vertonghen and 35-year-old Thomas Vermaelen. Both are in decline, with Vertonghen the projected starter on the left of the back three, so that could be Belgium's Achilles' heel.

Burning question: Can this become a truly golden generation? It's a term that should only be used when a team actually wins a major tournament, and this might be Belgium's last chance to earn that title.

DENMARK

Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

Roster:

Possible starting XI:

4-2-3-1: (GK) Schmeichel – (D) Wass, Kjær, Christensen, Mæhle – (DM) Højbjerg, Delaney – (AM) Poulsen, Eriksen, Braithwaite – (F) Wind

SCHEDULE

June 12, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Finland
June 17, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Belgium
June 21, 3 p.m. ET vs. Russia

ODDS

To win group: +275
To win tournament: +2800

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Most important player: Kasper Schmeichel. The Leicester City goalkeeper is continuing his father's legacy with Denmark. Almost singlehandedly, Schmeichel nearly guided the Danes to a World Cup quarterfinal but with a deeper, more in-form squad around him, they could go even further at Euro 2020.

Breakout player to watch: Jonas Wind. With only six caps to his name, the 22-year-old striker might retain his place as Denmark's No. 9 after impressing during World Cup qualifying in March. Wind scored 15 goals in 28 league games with FC Copenhagen this past season.

Biggest strength: Forward depth. Martin Braithwaite was surprisingly effective for Barcelona, plus Yussuf Poulsen works tremendously hard off the ball and has a solid scoring record for Denmark. Kasper Dolberg and Andreas Cornelius may not have been as lethal for their respective clubs, but they are mainstays with the national team.

Biggest weakness: Centre-back. This isn't a knock on Simon Kjær or Andreas Christensen, as they are solid defenders in the right system. For Christensen, that's in a back three as he's error-prone in a back four. Kjær, meanwhile, is a no-nonsense defender with decent speed and technique, but is foul-happy and that can get his teams in trouble.

Burning question: Is Denmark the dark horse with the most potential? Considering it's been a slog these last 12 months for European-based players, and Denmark's ability to stay compact defensively and counter swiftly, this is a perfect opportunity to disrupt the elite footballing countries this summer.

RUSSIA

Coach: Stanislav Cherchesov

Roster: Click here to view the full roster.

Possible starting XI:

4-2-3-1: (GK) Shunin – (D) Fernandes, Semenov, Dzhikiya, Zhirkov – (DM) Ozdoyev, Golovin – (AM) Cheryshev, Miranchuk, Zhemaletdinov – (F) Dzyuba

SCHEDULE

June 12, 3 p.m. ET: vs. Belgium
June 16, 9 a.m. ET: vs. Finland
June 21, 3 p.m. ET vs. Denmark

ODDS

To win group: +400
To win tournament: +10000

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Most important player: Mario Fernandes. The naturalized right-back was arguably Russia's best player at the 2018 World Cup and was one of the team's top chance creators. That shouldn't change come Euro 2020.

Breakout player to watch: Aleksei Miranchuk. The 25-year-old midfielder is well-known in Russian football circles but he's only shown flashes of his technique in Serie A with Atalanta so far. This will be his chance to announce himself to the world.

Biggest strength: Youthful midfield. Given the never-ending grind of the European season, this is where youth reigns supreme, especially in the middle of the pitch. It'll be tricky to select the ideal pivot or trio depending on the system of choice, but Stanislav Cherchesov isn't lacking depth.

Biggest weakness: Playing in tournaments outside Russia. Whatever the motivation or cause, the Russians tend to disappoint when they aren't the hosts. Group B is well-balanced but is by no means inaccessible for them, so they can break that duck.

Burning question: Will Stanislav Cherchesov use a 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2? The Russian coach experimented with both formations in March. Not much should change personnel-wise, but it might be the system that could help a younger midfield thrive.

FINLAND

Coach: Markku Kanerva

Roster: Click here to view the full roster.

Possible starting XI:

3-4-3: (GK) Hradecky – (D) Ivanov, Raitala, O'Shaughnessy – (M) Soiri, Kamara, Sparv, Uronen – (F) Lappalainen, Pukki, Forss

SCHEDULE

June 12, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Denmark
June 16, 9 a.m. ET: vs. Russia
June 21, 3 p.m. ET vs. Belgium

ODDS

To win group: +1600
To win tournament: +35000

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Most important player: Teemu Pukki. The 30-year-old forward is fresh off a 26-goal campaign with Norwich City in the Championship, so he's entering Euro 2020 on a hot streak.

Breakout player to watch: Lassi Lappalainen. The CF Montreal winger has been on loan from Bologna since the summer of 2019. The 22-year-old has been used sparingly in MLS this season, but with his improvisation, vision and pace, he could be a dangerman for the Finns on the counter-attack.

Biggest strength: Chemistry. This squad has been together for the majority of the cycle, and a few players are coming off excellent seasons. Given the quick turnaround of games and the fatigue most rosters will be affected by, that'll be an advantage for Finland.

Biggest weakness: One-dimensional attack. Finland relies on lethal counter-attacks and sit very deep off the ball in order to minimize an opponent's threat. This might behoove the Finns at a tournament where many teams will be sluggish, but it could blow up in their face if they concede off a set piece and need a goal.

Burning question: Can Finland be this year's Iceland? Finland's story is similar to Iceland's. It's a country not known for its footballing abilities, with a smaller population, that qualified for its first major tournament. The question now is whether it can reach the quarterfinals like their Scandinavian brethren managed in 2016.

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