Belgium take on Russia in opener sans stars

Injury and fitness concerns mean neither Kevin De Bruyne nor Eden Hazard is set to start against Russia on Saturday at Saint Petersburg Stadium, where the Belgians’ World Cup hopes in 2018 died in a loss to France.

What’s being billed by some as the last hurrah for Belgium’s Golden Generation begins with two of the team’s long-time stalwarts likely missing from its opening match of the European Championship. Injury and fitness concerns mean neither Kevin De Bruyne nor Eden Hazard is set to start against Russia on Saturday at Saint Petersburg Stadium, where the Belgians’ World Cup hopes in 2018 died in a loss to France.

They return to the same venue three years later as the world’s top-ranked team—they have been in that position since October 2018—but with doubts about the availability of their two star attacking midfielders, and maybe a bit more. De Bruyne is probably the least of coach Roberto Martinez’s concerns, despite linking up with the squad a week late after fracturing his nose and eye socket during Manchester City’s loss to Chelsea in the Champions League final.

The playmaker required a minor operation and is likely to be ready to start in Belgium’s second game, against Denmark in Copenhagen on June 17, when he might be wearing a face mask. Hazard’s health is slightly less clear-cut, with the winger in far-from-perfect shape after an injury-disrupted season with Real Madrid and only being a substitute in Euro warm-up games.

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Martinez said Hazard still needed to get match intensity so is likely to be on the bench again for the game against Russia, whose chances of an upset win suddenly have improved.

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