Wilmots plays down expectations

Belgium boss Marc Wilmots insists his side should be considered outsiders at Euro 2016 this summer.

Belgium, available at 12.00 to win the tournament, are thought by many to be one of the strongest teams going into the event but Wilmots has moved quickly to reduce expectations.

After failing to deliver for many years, Wilmots’ side went into the 2014 World Cup as one of the fancied teams due to their superior squad.

The likes of Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Thomas Vermaelen, Alex Witsel, Kevin Mirallas, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku are all expected to be competing for a starting spot at the tournament which starts on June 11.

Belgium are only behind Argentina in the FIFA world rankings and have been drawn in Group E alongside Sweden, Italy and the Republic of Ireland.

Wilmots’ men are expected to improve on their World Cup showing where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Argentina but the 47-year-old insists an appearance in the semi-finals would be a great achievement.

He told Gazette dello Sport: “Belgians expecting success? If others are crazy that’s not to say I’m crazy too. During this period we’ve done great work, we hadn’t qualified twice in a row on the pitch for 30 years.

“Spain, Germany and France have excellent quality and the latter are playing at home. We’re among the outsiders with Italy and Portugal. “If we don’t have other big injuries then we can aim for the semi-finals.

That would be a success, and when you get to the last four you can play to win. “What do we lack to be a favourite? The culture of managing a tournament like this, which Germany, Spain and of course Italy all have.”