Saint Petersburg (AFP)

In Saint Petersburg, Belgium enters the Euro ball, crowned with the status of favorite, but the absence at the kickoff of the two gems of its golden generation, Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard, announces the first steps perilous, Saturday (9:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. GMT) against Russia.

The "Red Devils" know the Krestovski stadium well, and yet, they do not know which foot to dance on, before seeing it again for the fourth time in three years.

During their last visit, in November 2019, they crushed the "Sbornaïa" (4-1), to secure first place in their group in the Euro qualifiers.

# photo1

This success reinforced the great ambitions of a selection in search of a first continental title, after having obtained the bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup, in Saint Petersburg, already.

"Obviously, this team wants to win (the title). We are hungry. We can not say that we will be happy after a quarter or a half. In our minds, it is the final that counts", assured Friday the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

But in a year and a half, the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the certainties upside down, not sparing the coach Roberto Martinez who has thus bowed to a few acrobatics, at the risk of losing his balance.

Before the first day of Group B, it is the state of form of De Bruyne, Hazard and Axel Witsel, three pillars of the Belgian game, which forced the Spanish coach to review his strategy for the start of the competition.

The Manchester City playmaker, author of a breathtaking new season, was injured in the Champions League final lost against Chelsea (1-0) at the end of May.

# photo2

After surgery, "KDB", who suffered from two fractures to his face, joined the squad on Monday, but it is still too close to resume competition.

De Bruyne withdrew from Saturday's meeting, as did Witsel, both players continuing their recovery at the Tubize training center, the Belgian Federation said on Friday.

- Hazard not in rhythm -

The Dortmund player is recovering from a serious injury to an Achilles tendon which put an early end, in January, to his season.

Hazard is well on the trip, but his physical form raises questions.

The Real Madrid star, plagued by numerous muscle problems, has played less than one in two games at club merengue since September.

Injured in a thigh early in the preparation, the Brainois, short of pace, played eight minutes during the last warm-up lap of the Devils, against Croatia (1-0) on Sunday, for his first appearance in the selection in close to a year and a half.

# photo3

On the ground, Belgium is no longer the same without its three stars.

His two preparation matches, against Greece (1-1) and Croatia, were not like the best attack in qualifying (4 goals per game on average).

"We still lack a bit of synchronization but the team is ready for the Euro," Martinez assured, confident that his players will avoid the trap in a half-full stadium, according to the current 50% gauge.

# photo4

"The first match is always the hardest, because we have to adapt to the competition," said the Spaniard, who remembers that his team lost for their entry into contention in 2016, against Italy. (2-0).

"De Bruyne, it is a great loss for Belgium. No team wants to lose its leader, but the Belgians remain the favorites", relativized for his part the Russian captain Artem Dzyuba, a few hours after the announcement of the positive test to Covid-19 from winger Andrey Mostovoy.

- Lukaku in shape -

In the middle, Leicester player Youri Tielemans is expected to make up for the absence of the usual creators, while Rennais Jérémy Doku and Neapolitan Dries Mertens will have to supply star striker Romelu Lukaku with balloons.

Belgium are hoping for another coup from the colossus of Inter Milan, author against Croatia of their 60th national goal - no compatriot has ever done better.

# photo5

Lukaku, too, appreciates the Russian air: it was in Voronezh, one evening in November 2010, that the young Antwerp resident, then aged 17, had unlocked his counter with the Devils, with a double that had overthrown the " Sbornaïa "(2-0).

He asks only to repeat the story ... but with a title at the end, this time.

© 2021 AFP