Nightmare to get tickets for Belgium vs Ireland, cheapest quote I've gotten is 200 euros.

Still fancy Italy to win the group. Belgium is better on paper, but I don't rate Wilmots and their defense isn't as strong as the Italians

Belgium declared their 24 man Provisional squad.

Goalkeepers - Courtois (Chelsea), Mignolet (Liverpool), J Gillet (Melechen)

Defenders - Alderweireld (Tottenham), Boyata (Celtic), Denayer (Galatasaray), Engels (Brugge), Lombaerts (Zenit), J Lukaku (Oostende), Meunier (Brugge), Vermaelen (Barcelona), Vertonghen (Tottenham)

Midfielders - De Bruyne (Manchester City), Dembele (Tottenham), E Hazard (Chelsea), Fellaini (Manchester United), Mertens (Napoli), Nainggolan (Roma), Witsel (Zenit)

Forwards - Batshuayi (Marseille), Benteke (Liverpool), Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), R Lukaku (Everton), Origi (Liverpool)

Standby's - Chadli (Tottenham), Ciman (Montreal), De Bock (Brugge), G Gillet (Nantes), T Hazard (Monechegladbach), Mirallas (Everton), Sels (Gent)

http://www.belgianfootball.be/en/news/belgian-red-devils%E2%80%99-squad-list-uefa-euro-2016

That's a damn good squad, even without Kompany. They must be doing something right in Belgium when a country of just 11 million manage to produce this many quality footballers at the same time.

Rex wrote:

That's a damn good squad, even without Kompany. They must be doing something right in Belgium when a country of just 11 million manage to produce this many quality footballers at the same time.

It's very solid, but for me, their back four is good rather than great, as I mentioned, and they will need Lukaku to come through as their forward. Like the other top sides, they are very well supplied in midfield and on the wings, not sure their's are to be preferred to Spain/Germany/France

Dude, I was talking in relative terms. I look at Sweden, which has a population of just under 10 million, then look at our NT. We have Zlatan and a bunch of utterly shit players basically. Belgium producing that many class players at the same time is special IMO. Now, whether this is just a fluke with a golden generation or if this is the result of great work, I have no idea.

He still does have a point, Belgium is a tad overrated. Many talented players especially for their size, no doubt about it but they aren't on the level of the likes of Germany, France, Spain etc

Also Zlatan is as talented as that whole bunch rolled together. You guys should've split him up, now you'll have to wait a couple decades to get another decent player

Germany is the reigning world champions though, so perhaps not entirely fair to compare Belgium to them. Also, all the countries you mention have a population ranging from 4 times to 8 times bigger, roughly, compared to Belgium. IMO it is a massive slice of luck, or a massive achievement from the Belgian FA to get a generation of players as good as they currently have.
As for Sweden, Zlatan is one player. Pretty much any country can fluke it and produce one outstanding talent. The Swedish pool of 'talents' is woeful though overall at the moment. We have been quite successful lately on youth level in championships, but from the little I have seen that has more to do with graft, discipline and successful team defense rather than exceptionally talented players.

Not really convinced the Belgian "golden generation" will be any better than Portugal's, and Portugal's got a population of 10 million as well. Greece actually won a tournament with a population of 10 million, and I very much doubt that Belgium will manage to accomplish that. 

Good crop of players though

This was supposed to be Sweden's golden generation isn't it from the Euro u21 2009 winning crop?

Think Insigne will light up the Euros. Cracking player

Clrnc wrote:

This was supposed to be Sweden's golden generation isn't it from the Euro u21 2009 winning crop?

Was that when Marcus Berg scored all those goals? Remember thinking he looked great, turned out to be waste of space. 

Belgium are boasting a top team. Vermaelen, Hazard, Vertoghen, Alderweireld all learned their trade in Holland/France funnily enough.

I think Belgium have a team of good but not top players. I'd say Hazard is their only really top class player. The rest of them are overrated.

Got tickets to go see Belgium train, better than nothing I guess

2009 U21 Euros is a good example actually. Sweden did well, but not a single player turned out to be anything really. I think Sweden is actually reigning U21 European champions but, again, I don't see a single top talent from that squad either.

otfgoon wrote:

Clrnc wrote:

This was supposed to be Sweden's golden generation isn't it from the Euro u21 2009 winning crop?

Was that when Marcus Berg scored all those goals? Remember thinking he looked great, turned out to be waste of space. 

Yeah. He is still scoring loads, but in the Greek league. I remember their midfield duo was decent, Wernbloom and Elm and probably Toivonen shone as well but turnout all of them are having a below par career.

Rex wrote:

That's a damn good squad, even without Kompany. They must be doing something right in Belgium when a country of just 11 million manage to produce this many quality footballers at the same time.

They took a load of kids from their countries in Africa and gave them Belgian passports, some made it others didn't and ended up on the streets. 

Clrnc wrote:

This was supposed to be Sweden's golden generation isn't it from the Euro u21 2009 winning crop?

They didn't win the -09 U21 Euros, they just hosted them. They won the tournament last year.

No one's spoken about a golden generation over here, really. Everyone was painfully aware that those players weren't good enough. Berg and Elm were pretty much the only ones who ever had a hope of becoming top players, but injuries and ailments have destroyed their careers. It's a shame about Berg, but Rasmus Elm is the real loss I reckon. That bloke could have been a big player. He's still only 28 but it looks like his career is pretty much done.

Out of the lot that won the U21 Euros last season I think Victor Nilsson Lindelöf is the one who has the best shot at a top career. I reckon he could turn into a very good defender. He broke through in Benfica's first team this season and is already a fan favourite there. I'm not sure if he starts for Sweden yet; perhaps Rex knows. I haven't watched the national team for years.