Belgium are among the favourites for Euro 2020 as the Red Devils today kick off their bid for glory with a clash against Russia.
Roberto Martinez’s side are currently ranked No1 in the FIFA world rankings, but that means they can no longer be considered dark horses to finally land a trophy.
As for Russia, they head into this game as the underdogs, but will be determined not to lose in St Petersburg - and their impressive World Cup quarter-final run back in 2018 proves they should not be underestimated on home soil.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Belgium vs Russia is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Saturday, June 12, 2021.
The match will be held at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg, Russia.
Where to watch Belgium vs Russia
TV channel: The match will be televised on ITV for free.
Live stream: UK viewers will be able to watch the match online via the ITV Hub.
Belgium vs Russia team news and lineups
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Boyata, Castagne, Tielemans, Dendoncker, Thorgan Hazard, Mertens, Lukaku, Carrasco
Subs: Vermaelen, Eden Hazard, Mignolet, Sels, Meunier, Denayer, Benteke, Chadli, Batshuayi, Trossard, Doku, Praet
Russia: Shunin, Fernandes, Semenov, Dzhikija, Zhirkov, Barinov, Ozdoev, Zobnin, Kuzyaev, Golovin, Dzyuba
Subs: Diveev, Karavaev, Cheryshev, Sobolev, Zabolotny, Dyupin, Miranchuk, Safonov, Zhemaletdinov, Ionov, Evgeniev, Mukhin
Belgium squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Matz Sels
Defenders: Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen, Thomas Meunier, Jason Denayer, Dedryck Boyata, Leander Dendoncker, Timothy Castagne
Midfielders: Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli, Yannick Carrasco, Youri Tielemans, Thorgan Hazard, Dennis Praet, Hans Vanaken
Forwards: Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi, Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard
Russia squad
Goalkeepers: Yuri Dyupin, Matvei Safonov, Anton Shunin
Defenders: Georgi Dzhikiya, Igor Diveev, Yuri Zhirkov, Vyacheslav Karavaev, Fedor Kudryashov, Andrei Semenov, Mario Fernandes, Roman Yevgenyev
Midfielders: Dmitri Barinov, Rifat Zhemaletdinov, Maksim Mukhin, Aleksandr Golovin, Daniil Fomin, Roman Zobnin, Alexei Ionov, Daler Kuzyayev, Magomed Ozdoev, Denis Makarov, Aleksei Miranchuk, Denis Cheryshev
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba, Anton Zabolotny, Aleksandr Sobolev
Belgium vs Russia prediction
While Belgium may not have De Bruyne to call on, they have plenty of star quality throughout their squad. Even though this game is in Russia, the Red Devils should get off the mark with a win.
Belgium 3-1 Russia
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Belgium wins: 5
Draws: 2
Russia wins: 0
Betting odds and tips
Belgium to win: 7/10
Draw: 13/5
Russia to win: 41/10
