Nations League team news and prediction: Belgium vs Denmark

Denmark rescued their chances of securing first in Group 2 courtesy of a late Christian Eriksen penalty on Sunday night as the Danish Dynamite picked up a 2-1 win over Iceland to set up a winner-takes-all meeting with Belgium. 

The Red Devils dumped England out of the running for top spot with a 2-0 win on Sunday night as Youri Tielemans and Dries Mertens fired Belgium to victory. 

Ahead of this decisive UEFA Nations League game in Group 2, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place, including probable XIs, team news and where you can watch the match.   

When is kick off?   

Wednesday 18th November, 19:45 GMT  

Where is the match?   

King Power Stadion At Den Dreef, Leuven (Belgium) 

Where can I watch it?   

Sky Sports, via The Red Button 

What's at stake? 

Belgium currently lead Denmark by two points in Group 2 following their 2-0 win over England on Sunday night. The Red Devils need only to avoid defeat to book their place in the UEFA Nations League finals having won four of five matches so far. Having earned a 2-0 win over Denmark in Copenhagen earlier this year, Belgium will be confident of securing the required result to finish first. 

However, Denmark aren't to be underestimated. Granted, the last three goals they have scored in the UEFA Nations League have been from the penalty spot, but as we saw in Spain's 6-0 win over Germany, anything is possible at this level. Denmark's only loss in the group stage, though, was the aforementioned 2-0 loss to Belgium, which doesn't bode well. 

Team News 

Key men Thomas Meunier and Axel Witsel, who would start for Belgium, are suspended after both were booked in Sunday's win over the Three Lions, with Nacer Chadli and Dennis Praet expected to come into the XI. Eden Hazard and Thomas Kaminski are ruled out after their positive COVID-19 tests, while Thomas Vermaelen, Hendrik van Crombrugge, Leandro Trossard and Alexis Saelemaekers are sidelined. Simon Mignolet has also left the squad, though he is being rested rather than injury forcing him out of the setup. 

Leander Dendoncker is a doubt and unlikely to be risked. 33-year-old Jan Vertonghen started recent meetings with Switzerland and England, so could drop out here if Martinez wishes to freshen his side up at the back. Hannes Delcroix, Brandon Mechele and Dedryck Boyata are all options for Martinez if Vertonghen does sit out the welcome of Denmark. 

Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand is sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. The Leicester star was forced off after 45 minutes against Iceland, but he has travelled with the squad to Belgium, and that is a boost for the Danish Dynamite. Tottenham star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was suspended for the 2-1 win over Iceland, however he is available for selection here and is expected to come into the midfield. Lukas Lerager and Robert Skov are both absent for this must-win meeting with Belgium. 

Probable XIs 

Belgium (3421) - Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Mechele; Chadli, Praet, Tielemans, Hazard; De Bruyne, Mertens; Lukaku

Denmark (3412) - Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard; Wass, Delaney, Hojbjerg, Larsen; Eriksen; Poulsen, Braithwaite

Key Battle - Kevin De Bruyne vs Christian Eriksen

While he was unable to have a direct hand in a goal against England, Kevin De Bruyne is still a force to be reckoned with. The creative star has six assists to his name from his last five outings for club and country, but will be facing Denmark for the first time in a UEFA Nations League encounter. Given the ease with which Belgium have scored in 2020/21, netting 12 times in five matches, De Bruyne will be looking to play his part as the Red Devils seek progression to the UEFA Nations League finals.

Yet Denmark aren't without a maestro of their own in the form of Christian Eriksen. The midfielder hasn't been in great form for Inter this season, but he has four goals in five UEFA Nations League outings in 2020/21. Granted, three of those have come from the penalty spot, yet an average of 2.2 key passes per 90 in the competition this season means that, if Denmark are to spring an upset, it's likely to be down to Eriksen's offensive output.

Prediction: Belgium 2-1 Denmark