Belgium will hope to prove they can still mix it with the very best Europe has to offer at Euro 2024, even though their "golden generation" has largely now come to an end.
Often considered as under-achievers given the talent at their disposal, the Red Devils were third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and quarterfinalists at the previous two European Championships, but they never managed to get to a final, let alone lift a major trophy.
With the likes of Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Moussa Dembele and Dries Mertens having moved on, expectations are different for Domenico Tedesco and his players heading to Euro 2024 in Germany.
That said, there is still plenty of hope at home that they can challenge for the latter stages of the tournament and maybe win a significant piece of silverware for the very first time.
MORE: Who will win Euro 2024?
Belgium Euro 2024 squad and player roster
Tedesco named a 25-man squad for the Euros on May 28, with the intention of potentially calling up one additional player to the final roster. However, despite having Arne Engels and Mandela Keita training with the squad, in the end he opted to stick with that initial 25.
"We have decided to go to the European Championship with 25," Tedesco told reporters. "It's all about the group spirit. I didn't want to disappoint a young player. I have always been clear that we would go to Germany with 25."
The big omission was goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who only returned to first-team football in early May following an ACL injury. However, it was always likely the Real Madrid keeper would be overlooked given a previous falling-out with the head coach.
Experienced stars Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are in the squad, as is 37-year-old defender Jan Vertonghen. His recent injury concerns also prompted a recall for Atletico Madrid's Axel Witsel, who last played for his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Manchester City's Jeremy Doku and Arsenal's Leandro Trossard add to a formidable list of forwards, while inexperienced Club Brugge defender Maxim De Cuyper is included, along with Atletico teenager Arthur Vermeeren.
Ages and caps correct at the start of Euro 2024 on June 14
| Position | Player Name | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Koen Casteels | Wolfsburg (GER) | 31 | 10 |
| GK | Thomas Kaminski | Luton Town (ENG) | 31 | 1 |
| GK | Matz Sels | Nottingham Forest (ENG) | 32 | 8 |
| DEF | Timothy Castagne | Fulham (ENG) | 28 | 43 |
| DEF | Zeno Debast | Anderlecht (BEL) | 20 | 8 |
| DEF | Maxim De Cuyper | Club Brugge (BEL) | 23 | 2 |
| DEF | Wout Faes | Leicester City (ENG) | 26 | 15 |
| DEF | Thomas Meunier | Trabzonspor (BEL) | 32 | 66 |
| DEF | Arthur Theate | Rennes (FRA) | 24 | 15 |
| DEF | Jan Vertonghen | Anderlecht (BEL) | 37 | 154 |
| DEF | Axel Witsel | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 35 | 132 |
| MID | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City (ENG) | 32 | 101 |
| MID | Yannick Carrasco | Al Shabab (KSA) | 30 | 74 |
| MID | Charles De Ketelaere | Atalanta (ITA) | 23 | 15 |
| MID | Amadou Onana | Everton (ENG) | 22 | 13 |
| MID | Youri Tielemans | Aston Villa (ENG) | 27 | 67 |
| MID | Arthur Vermeeren | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 19 | 4 |
| MID | Aster Vranckx | Wolfsburg (GER) | 21 | 7 |
| FWD | Johan Bakayoko | PSV (NED) | 21 | 12 |
| FWD | Jeremy Doku | Manchester City (ENG) | 22 | 22 |
| FWD | Romelu Lukaku | Roma (ITA) | 31 | 115 |
| FWD | Dodi Lukebakio | Sevilla (SPA) | 26 | 15 |
| FWD | Lois Openda | RB Leipzig (GER) | 24 | 17 |
| FWD | Leandro Trossard | Arsenal (ENG) | 29 | 34 |
How many players are in Euro 2024 squads?
On May 3, 2024, UEFA's executive committee confirmed national teams would be able to name 26 players in their Euro 2024 squads. Belgium declined to do that and unusually named one less.
That 26 figure was the number allowed due to the impact of COVID-19 upon Euro 2020, while the FIFA World Cup taking place in the middle of the 2022/23 European season meant larger squads were also permitted.
UEFA intended to revert to a 23-man limit for Euro 2024 but the national competitions committee voted in favor of 26-man squads forced a rethink.
MORE: UEFA Euro 2024 schedule
Belgium Euro 2024 schedule, matches
Belgium's Euros campaign begins against Slovakia on June 17.
| Date | Time (CET) | Opponent | Location |
| June 17 | 6 p.m. | Slovakia | Frankfurt (Deutsche Bank Park) |
| June 22 | 9 p.m. | Romania | Cologne (RheinEnergieStadion) |
| June 26 | 6 p.m. | Ukraine | Stuttgart (MHPArena) |
Can Belgium replace players on Euro 2024 roster?
Teams had to confirm their preliminary squads by May 21 and submit final squad lists to UEFA by June 7.
Replacements can be made on the grounds of illness or injury up until June 13, the day before the tournament starts.
Once Euro 2024 begins, teams must find solutions from within their 26-man squads.
