SM
Liverpool vs. Tottenham: 13 hrs 13 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
BN
European Championship | Quarter-Finals
Jul 2, 2021 at 8pm UK
Allianz Arena
IN

Belgium
1 - 2
Italy

Lukaku (45+2' pen.)
Tielemans (21')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Barella (31'), Insigne (44')
Verratti (20'), Berardi (90')

Belgium wait on Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard fitness

:Headline: Belgium wait on Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard fitness:
Manager Roberto Martinez will make a late decision on the injured pair.
Sports Mole

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez will give Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard until the last minute to prove their fitness ahead of Friday night's Euro 2020 quarter-final clash with Italy.

Manchester City star De Bruyne suffered an ankle injury during Sunday's 1-0 win over Portugal, during which Real Madrid's Hazard also limped off with a muscle problem, and neither was able to train with the rest of the squad on Thursday morning.

However, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the game in Munich, Martinez said: "We all know that we are fighting against time, but we're going to take until the last minute to make the decision.

"Every day that goes by, every time they can sleep and get three meals and get some treatment, we see an improvement, and then we'll see tomorrow if they can be involved or not. Unfortunately at the moment, we cannot make a decision.

"Obviously it will be difficult for tomorrow – a soft tissue injury in Eden's case, maybe is difficult for a game like tomorrow, and for Kevin, having a ligament problem maybe is a bit different.

"But it's more a medical decision. At the moment, it's not a football decision; tomorrow it will become a medical decision in the afternoon and then we'll make a football decision after that."

Martinez could do with having all his most potent weapons available for a clash with an Italian side which is unbeaten in 31 matches, while both teams are bidding to become the first to win 15 consecutive European Championship matches since the start of qualification.

Roberto Martinez led Wigan to FA Cup final victory over Roberto Mancini's Manchester City in 2013 (Dave Thompson/PA)

However, he may be able to draw a little inspiration from a previous clash with Roberto Mancini after famously leading Wigan to FA Cup final victory over the Italy head coach's Manchester City team in 2013.

He said: "Obviously it was very special for Wigan Athletic and everyone connected, but it shows you that over 90 minutes in a cup, anything can happen."

Belgium will be looking to striker Romelu Lukaku to continue his superb goalscoring form but Italy skipper Giorgio Chiellini insists he will not be losing any sleep over the prospect of going head-to-head with the Inter Milan hitman.

The 36-year-old Juventus defender and his team-mates face the task of stopping the man whose goals helped to hand Inter a first Serie A title in 11 years last season if they are to emerge victorious.

“I think we'll both sleep well tonight, that goes for me and Romelu.”
- Italy skipper Giorgio Chiellini

Chiellini, who is back in contention after missing the final Group A win over Wales and the last-16 win against Austria through injury, told a press conference: "We have got a lot of respect for Lukaku because he had a great season for Inter and all campaign long, we have witnessed just what a match-winner and a big player he's become.

"But it would be doing a disservice to Belgium if you were simply to say that Belgium were all about Romelu Lukaku because they've got quality players all over the pitch.

"We'll prepare for the game as we always have done. We'll keep an eye on him and their other good players because they have got some top players regardless of who starts tomorrow night.

"But I think we'll both sleep well tonight, that goes for me and Romelu."

Mancini is well aware of the challenge his side faces against FIFA's number one ranked team, but insists the tournament to date is proof that favouritism counts for little.

Mancini said: "There's no such thing as a straightforward match – Switzerland beat France; Portugal are out; so too are Germany; the Netherlands were knocked out by the Czech Republic.

"We are on the slightly more difficult side of the draw, at least on paper, but as we've seen from matches at this level, there's never anything that is taken for granted or straightforward."

body check tags ::

amp_article__453600 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-07-01 21:19:08:
html db last update - 2021-07-01 19:44:16 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Kevin De Bruyne

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Euro 2020 matchday 21: Belgium prepare to tackle Italy
Real Madrid confirmed as La Liga champions for 2023-24 campaign
Friday's Transfer Talk Update: Wan-Bissaka, Olise, Onana
Manchester City planning Josko Gvardiol move?
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs341861067541360
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
8Chelsea34149116559651
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
12Fulham36128165155-444
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

This weekend's permutations: Who can be crowned champions, win promotion or suffer relegation?

1

TW

Spurs to rival Arsenal for £60m midfielder?

2

ST

Preview: Al-Ahli vs. Al-Hilal - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PA

Guardiola makes Arsenal title claim after Man City's win over Wolves

4

GM

Preview: Arsenal vs. Bournemouth - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PA

Preview: Man City vs. Wolves - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PM

Liverpool lining up new contract for defender?

7

LL

Real Madrid confirmed as La Liga champions for 2023-24 campaign

8

RM

How Man United could line up against Crystal Palace

9

HM

All-time PL combined XI: Tottenham vs. Liverpool

10

AP


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .