Euro 2020: Who is likely to qualify?

Group I: Belgium, Russia, Scotland, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, San Marino

Eden Hazard should help Belgium to qualify for Euro 2020 easily

Like France, World Cup semi-finalists Belgium should have things relatively easy in what looks like a soft group. Russia did well at home in the World Cup and Scotland have looked surprisingly resurgent recently, but realistically Belgium – who haven’t lost any of their incredible talent that includes Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne – are light years ahead of both.

San Marino – who finished bottom of their Nations League group in League D and didn’t score a goal – remain probably the weakest team in Europe and will likely act as whipping boys to the rest of the group. Kazakhstan and Cyprus will likely also struggle judging on their Nations League performances, which leaves Russia and Scotland.

Russia followed up their strong World Cup campaign by nearly winning their Nations League group in League B. All they needed from the final match was a point, but a loss to Sweden instead meant the Swedes pipped them due to superior goal difference. The firepower of Artem Dzyuba, Denis Cheryshev and Alan Dzagoev makes them dangerous, although they’re probably too fragile to beat Belgium.

Scotland meanwhile finally have a little bit of momentum following their Nations League wins over Albania and Israel – wins that allowed them to top their group and claim a playoff spot for Euro 2020 – but it’s worth noting that they lost to Israel in October, too. But in Ryan Fraser and Andrew Robertson, they do have some genuine Premier League level talent.

The Tartan Army could be capable of springing an upset on Russia here, therefore qualifying for their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, but their history of slip-ups against smaller sides – such as their loss to Georgia in Euro 2016 qualification – means Russia should probably still be favoured.

Prediction: Belgium and Russia to qualify