Team ethic boosts Belgian bid

Belgium have completed their first objective of qualifying for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship; now Jean-François De Sart's side are looking to earn a place in the Olympic Games with a semi-final place in the Netherlands, although surpassing the achievements of the side who finished third in their group at the 2002 finals is also an ambition.

Belgium kicked off their qualifying campaign determined to make amends for the catastrophic finale to their play-off against Ukraine that had deprived them of a place in the 2006 finals. Maarten Martens got the only goal of their opening Group 4 tie against the Republic of Ireland before Faris Haroun scored twice to defeat Greece 2-1 and earn his side a play-off berth. Drawn against Bulgaria, Belgium seemed in trouble after Tsvetan Genkov's 89th-minute penalty had cancelled out substitute Jonathan Legear's first-leg opener to send the two sides to Sofia at 1-1. However, Stijn Desmet's strike and a Martens penalty put them 2-0 up by half-time and though Genkov replied for Bulgaria, further goals from Desmet and Legear, a minute after coming on, sealed progress. "The strength of our team is that we have a strong group dynamic," said De Sart, whose side defeated Luxembourg 8-0 in their final pre-finals friendly at the start of June. "These boys are all friends on and off the pitch. The atmosphere is always excellent, and that is the way you get good results."

During qualification De Sart fielded a 4-3-3 formation with KRC Genk's Logan Bailly in goal and a defence including Nicolas Lombaerts and Sébastien Pocognoli, although neither Günther Vanaudenaerde nor Jason Vandelannoitte made the finals squad despite featuring in qualifying. The skilful captain Martens dictates terms in midfield, and is flanked either side by Killian Overmeire and Haroun. Tom De Sutter is the target man up front while Jonathan Blondel, Tom De Mul and Kevin Mirallas are all capable of getting amongst the goals. The dangerous Legear and Moussa Dembélé miss out through injury but senior internationals Thomas Vermaelen and Marouane Fellaini, as well as Martens and De Mul, are included in the squad although preparations have been hampered as ten U21 internationals have been on senior duty recently.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship record: group stage 2002.

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards