Euro 2024 Group E: Golden Belgium era still flickering

On paper, Group E isn't one that whets the appetite but favourites Belgium aside, it's a difficult one to predict.

Belgium will be expected to top the group in their first tournament under the management of Domenico Tedesco, although the lights of their Golden Generation have dimmed in recent times.

Much could swing on their opening game against Slovakia, who got through qualifying with relative ease, only losing twice to a flawless Portugal side.

Romania were even more impressive, topping a group containing Switzerland and Israel unbeaten, while Ukraine scraped through the play-offs with late winners in both their semi-final and final.

Country: Belgium

Manager: Domenico Tedesco

Captain: Kevin De Bruyne

Player to watch: Jeremy Doku

Best Euros performance: Runners up (1980)

Fixtures

Monday, 17 June: Slovakia, (Frankfurt), 5pm

Saturday, 22 June: Romania, (Cologne), 8pm

Wednesday, 26 June: Ukraine, (Stuttgart), 5pm

Belgium's Euro 2024 squad contains the dying embers of the so-called Golden Generation that has flattered to deceive at major tournaments over the past decade.

A meek group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup was seen as last act of that star-studded team, although in Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, they still have no fewer than four international centurions among their ranks in Germany.

Roberto Martinez resigned as manager after that debacle in Qatar, where Belgium scored just one goal and picked up four points, ultimately finishing third behind eventual semi-finalists Morocco and Croatia.

The Spaniard was replaced by Tedesco, an Italian-born German who has built his reputation with varying levels of success at Schalke 04, Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig.

Judging by results so far, the appointment