Belgium captain Eden Hazard starts on the bench against Russia as they seek to affirm their status among the favourites for Euro 2020 in Saturday’s Group B clash.
Hazard has had an injury-plagued season with Real Madrid and his place in the Belgium starting lineup was always in doubt as he missed out on much of the countryâÂÂs first week of preparation for the tournament.
With midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel missing out through injury, the match provides Youri Tielemans with the opportunity to step up and play a central role, one month after his heroics for Leicester City in their FA Cup final triumph.
Hosts Russia have made two changes to the team that beat Bulgaria 1-0 in Moscow last Saturday in their last warm-up game.
Full back Mario Fernandes comes in for Vyachelsav Karavayev while Daler Kuzyayev replaces Alexei Ionov.
Russia were hit on the eve of the tournament by the withdrawal of Andrey Mostovoy after he tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
Belgium vs Russia lineups
Belgium XI: 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 XI: Shunin, Fernandes, Semenov, Dzhikija, Zhirkov, Barinov, Ozdoev, Zobnin, Kuzyaev, Golovin, Dzyuba
Subs: Diveev, Karavaev, Cheryshev, Sobolev, Zabolotny, Dyupin, Miranchuk, Safonov, Zhemaletdinov, Ionov, Evgeniev, Mukhin
Squads
Belgium
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
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
