The Red Devils will have to battle against Ukraine this Wednesday to qualify for the 1/8 finals of Euro 2024. In the event of qualification, it will be necessary to pay attention to strategic choices, with diametrically opposed tables.
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It’s time to get out the calculators. Belgium can still qualify for the round of 16 of Euro 2024, which they will do if they take a single point against Ukraine. Qualifying as first, second or third will have immediate consequences on possible positions in the next round. We take stock with the Vestiaire team.
If Belgium wins its group
If the Red Devils finish at the top of Group E, they will be able to face a third in Group A, Group C or Group D. This means that Belgium could still face Hungary, Slovenia or the Netherlands. The most likely, at this stage, was Slovenia or the Netherlands on July 2 at 6 p.m.
If Belgium finishes second
In the event of second place, the scenario is different since there would only be one possibility: a match on July 1, at 6 p.m., against France, second in group D. The clash between neighbors will not take place until in the event of second place for the Red Devils.
If Belgium finishes third
If Belgium finally secures third place by qualifying, then it will be able to face Spain or England on June 30.
“You have to take the easy way out.”
So what to do? According to all our experts present on the set, you shouldn’t think too much and start by winning against Ukraine. In a tough part of the table, Belgium could face Spain, Germany, France or even Portugal. In the other, there would be England and Italy, but also Austria or Switzerland.
“You have to take the easy way out. You have to win and try to have the most interesting part of the table!”tells us Jonathan Lardot, who hopes for a favorable scenario, advising Belgium to think differently than in recent years. “We have to remember 2018. If we had been more strategic by calculating differently, we would have finished second and we would have had an easier path. Here, indirectly, we also have to play with the advantages that we can gain”estimates the referee.
For Kevin Mirallas, opting for the complicated part of the table is not necessarily a bad thing. Especially given the Red Devils’ past record. “We are going to see ourselves as favorites and that doesn’t work out for us”believes the former Red Devil, who fears a possible trap. “When you play against Austria you tell yourself that we have a better team, normally it will be fine, as we saw against Slovakia. You fall on the other side, OK, it’s harder, but you know that you are facing the best and there, you are 200% motivated”he justifies.
His example? Negative references, such as the matches against Japan in 2018 (with a favorable outcome) or even Wales in 2016. The Red Devils will do everything they can on the pitch, from 6 p.m. against Ukraine.
Red Devils euro 2024 In the Locker Room
