Belgium will have to wait eagerly to see whether star players Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard can play against Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.
Manchester City’s De Bruyne (ankle) and Real Madrid’s Hazard (muscle strain) were both eliminated in Belgium’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16 on Sunday, and manager Roberto Martinez will make last-minute decisions.
Italy’s skipper Giorgio Chiellini is back for the match in Munich on Friday night after missing his team’s last two games – wins against Wales, the last group game and against Austria.
De Bruyne (pictured) and Hazard are both doubtful for Belgium (Jose Manuel Vidal / AP).
Spain coach Luis Enrique has not reported any new injuries for his team’s quarter-finals in St. Petersburg against Switzerland in the early evening.
The Swiss will have to do without the suspended captain Granit Xhaka after the Arsenal midfielder received his second booking for the tournament in a thrilling penalty shoot-out win against France.
The winners of Friday’s quarter-finals will meet on Tuesday in the first semi-finals at Wembley Stadium, and the next day the second quarter-finals will take place in the same location.
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Italy has set a new national record with 31 unbeaten games since October 2018, surpassing the mark of Vittorio Pozzo’s world and Olympic champions of the 1930s. This includes wins in the last 12 games without conceding a goal until the Austrian consolation in extra time on Saturday.
However, their opponents are not far behind – Belgium are unbeaten 13 games, have won 11 and only lost to England in the Nations League since early 2019. In every 27 games during that period, Italy have won 24 and drawn 3, scoring 80 goals and conceding seven goals, compared to Belgium’s 23 wins, three draws and one defeat, 81 goals scored and 15 goals conceded.
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Three lions are looking for “edge”
Gareth Southgate urged his players to return to “performance” as preparations continued for Saturday’s quarter-finals against Ukraine in Rome.
England travel to the Italian capital knowing that it will be the only trip outside of Wembley to get a place in the semi-finals against the Czech Republic or Denmark.
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The Three Lions lifted the nation by defeating Germany on Tuesday, but Southgate is keen that its players maintain their “lead”.
Southgate said: “It’s Saturday for us now, the news is great, the congratulations are great, but it’s also dangerous because it can take advantage of you and we need to feel that head start now to come back.” in the performance state. “
England will know who they might face in the last fours before the Olympic Stadium game against Ukraine kicks off at 8pm on Saturday as Denmark’s quarter-finals against the Czech Republic begin at 5pm in Baku.
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Switzerland v Spain (quarter-finals, July 2, St. Petersburg, 1700 BST)
Belgium v Italy (quarter-finals, July 2, Munich, 2000 BST)
