Bucharest (AFP)

After the successful opening of Italy against Turkey (3-0), another attractive contender for the Euro enters the scene on Saturday, Belgium, even without its tenors to face Russia in St. Petersburg (9:00 p.m.).

Before the "Red Devils", the Dragons of Wales and Gareth Bale, semi-finalist five years ago, will enter the great European theater against Switzerland (3:00 p.m.), in a day also marked by the first notes of Finland in a big competition, against Denmark (6:00 p.m.).

If the rejuvenated Italy of Roberto Mancini is making its nest, Belgium of Eden Hazard is at the top of the favorites for the European crown.

The "Azzurri" missed the Mondial-2018, where the Belgians finished third, their best result in the competition.

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"We are hungry for titles," sums up goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

But the Belgians, finalists of Euro-1980, do not have all their votes for this introduction: one of their stars, Kevin De Bruyne, is forfeited, not yet sufficiently recovered from his fractures in the face dating from the Champions League final, and the other, Eden Hazard, is on one leg and should only be able to play a part of the match.

Pursued by injuries for two seasons, the Madrilenian suffers from a thigh.

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Finally, another executive, Axel Witsel, severely affected by an Achilles tendon in January, is not operational for Russia.

But the coach Roberto Martinez does not pull the Red Devil by the tail so far: he still has a good range to compose his team, starting with the powerful center forward Romelu Lukaku.

- Hazard pursued by injuries -

"We have a good + mix + in the group, it's a good time to write a nice story", insists Courtois.

Russia willingly leaves the role of favorite to Belgium, even diminished.

The "Sbornaïa" has not forgotten that the Red Devils went for a walk the last time they visited him in Saint Petersburg (4-1), in November 2019, in qualifying for this Euro-2020, postponed to 'one year by the pandemic.

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Russia, host of the 2018 World Cup, also becomes the first European team to play two tournaments in a row at home.

And the second in history after Brazil, organizer of the 1949 Copa America and the 1950 World Cup.

Before that, Welsh and Swiss will compete on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in Baku, to see who manages to keep up with the pace imposed by Italy's entry into Group A.

Surprise of Euro-2016, the Welsh rely mainly on Gareth Bale, their captain, even if he has not scored for eleven matches with the Dragons.

The Swiss are more regular in big competition, they crossed the first round in the last two World Cups and Euro-2016, but their goal is to finally pass a knockout round, which they do not. have been more successful since 1954 and the World Cup at home ...

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Finland, it does not have this past, and discovers its first big competition, like North Macedonia, Sunday in Bucharest against Austria.

It is "the dream of several generations," said coach Markku Kanerva.

Guided by star Teemu Pukki (Norwich), the "eagle owls" open their first recital against a regular, Denmark, winner in 1992, but they are not afraid.

“I know we are a bit of the underdog in this tournament,” says their captain Tim Sparv, “but I can assure you that after the tournament we will not be seen as the underdog anymore.”

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