Euro 2024: Belgium can take advantage of reduced expectations with backbone of Golden Oldies

Less is expected of Belgium now many of their Golden Generation have retired, but Kevin De Bruyne and Co will be hoping that allows them to fly under the radar.

Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld and Dries Mertens all hung up their boots after a humiliating group-stage exit at Qatar 2022, which spelt the end of Roberto Martinez's six-year tenure.

Belgium plan to turn over a new leaf under Domenico Tedesco and the Red Devils are expected to qualify top of Group E, which also contains Ukraine and Romania, and begin their campaign against the tournament's fourth lowest-ranked team.

Since failing to qualify for Euro 2012, Belgium had made at least the quarter-finals of every major tournament until the 2022 World Cup. Their performances in Qatar showed regeneration was needed — and it has duly followed.

There is now a mix of youth and experience, with De Bruyne, 32, Jan Vertonghen, 37, and Axel Witsel, who came out of retirement at 35, joined by Manchester City's Jeremy Doku, 22, Sporting defender Zeno Debast, 20, and 19-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Arthur Vermeeren.

While there is no Thibaut Courtois after a falling out with Tedesco over the captaincy last year, clean sheets from five of their last six games suggest a solid defence regardless.

Romelu Lukaku will carry the mantle up front, while City's De Bruyne and Arsenal's Leandro Trossard are Belgium's creative sparks. De Bruyne's nine assists at major tournaments since the 2014 World Cup is the most of any European player.

Tedesco, 38, says his minimum expectation is the round of 16, but that would still signal failure for a side ranked third in the world, above England, Portugal and Brazil.