Belgium vs Montenegro preview

May 24, 2012
By: Matthew Clarke

Both sides are in the process of preparing for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and this game will serve as an opportunity to test their skills against an evenly matched opponents.

In spite of boasting one of the most talented sides in world football, Belgium have once again missed out on a major tournament, although they have shown a lot of promise in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

The team eventually missed out on the play-off place by two points and they now aim to finally prove their worth and qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Their preparations were dealt with a major blow as boss Georges Leekens decided to leave the post in order to take over the reigns at Club Brugge, meaning that his assistant Marc Wilmots will lead the team against Montenegro.

Star players Hazard, Kompany, Vermaelen, Fellaini and Witsel are all included, but Laurent Ciman, Maarten Martens and Kevin De Bruyne miss out through injury.

Due to various ailments Vincent Kompany, Daniel Van Buyten and Thomas Vermalen will miss the Montenegro game, but they should be in contention for the match against England on 2nd June.

In spite of several high-profile absentees, Belgium remain odds-on favourites for the win, with Sportingbet paying 1.67 (2/3) on home win.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Courtois – Odoi, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Lombaerts – Fellaini, Witsel, Defour – Hazard, Vossen, Dembele.

Montenegro started their first ever Euro qualifying campaign in style, winning three straight games before bringing one point from Wembley, but the Brave Falcons eventually missed out on the place at the final tournament after losing the play-offs to Czech Republic.

Branko Brnovic’s side, nonetheless, showed a lot of potential throughout the qualifying campaign, proving they have what it takes to fight even the best national teams in Europe, and they are now eager to continue the good run of results before the start of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Friendly victory over Iceland helped the team restore some of the lost confidence following the poor finish to the Euro 2012 qualifiers, and a good result in Belgium would be an extra incentive at the moment.

Lille defender Marko Basa returns to the side after recovering from injury, while full-back Vladimir Volkov is expected to be handed a debut even if he already has one Serbia cap to his name.

Fiorentina star Stevan Jovetic was forced to withdraw because of injury, just like midfielder Milorad Pekovic and Mitar Novakovic.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Bozovic – Pavicevic, Basa, Savic, Volkov – Vukcevic, Drincic, Zverotic, Nikolic – Vucinic, Beciraj.

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