The side that finished third at Russia 2018 are at Hampden as they start to build towards Euro 2020
Fresh from finishing third at the World Cup, Belgium are back in action on Thursday, when they will tackle Scotland in a friendly match at Hampden.
It is not entirely unknown territory for Roberto Martinez, who spent the 2001-02 season with Motherwell, while Shaun Maloney, who has recently been added to his coaching staff, has many fond memories of the stadium playing for both Celtic and Scotland.
The Red Devils are using this as a stop off before travelling to Iceland for a Nations League match on Tuesday, while Scotland will play their inaugural match in that competition against Albania on Monday as they begin their quest to qualify for a first major tournament since 1998.
Here is all the essential information.
| Game | Scotland vs Belgium |
| Date | Friday, September 7 |
| Time | 7:45pm BST / 2:45pm ET |
In the United States (US) the game will available to stream live online using ESPN+.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| n/a | ESPN+ |
The game can be watched live on television in the United Kingdom (UK) via Sky Sports Main Event and it can be streamed live online using Sky Go.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports Main Event | Sky Go |
| Position | Scotland squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Archer, Gordon, McGregor |
| Defenders | Mulgrew, O’Donnell, Robertson, Shinnie, Souttar, Tierney |
| Midfielders | Armstrong, Forrest, Fraser, Jack, McDonald, McGinn, McGregor, McTominay, Paterson, Snodgrass |
| Forwards | Griffiths, Naismith, Russell |
Alex McLeish has seen Celtic centre-back Jack Hendry, Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney, WBA star Matt Phillips and Oliver McBurnie of Swansea pull out of his squad because of injuries.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of headaches elsewhere in the side, with Matt Ritchie and Barry Douglas among the casualties.
The squad named is inexperienced, with only six outfielders boasting double figures in terms of caps.
Potential Scotland starting XI: Gordon; Souttar, Mulgrew, Tierney; Paterson, McGinn, Armstrong, Robertson; Forrest, Griffiths, McGregor
| Position | Belgium squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Courtois, Sles, Casteels |
| Defenders | Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Castagne, Boyata, Dendoncker |
| Midfielders | Witsel, Vanaken, Verstraete, Carrasco, Tielemans, Dembele, Chadli |
| Forwards | Lukaku, Hazard, Mertens, Hazard, Batshuayi, Trossard |
Roberto Martinez has a smattering of injury problems before this encounter, with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne notably missing out.
Simon Mignolet, Marouane Fellaini and Christian Benteke were all named in the initial squad for this clash but have been forced to withdraw because of problems, while Adnan Januzaj is also unavailable.
Eden Hazard and Nacer Chadli have been carrying knocks and may not play a full role.
Potential Belgium starting XI: Courtois; Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Kompany; Meunier, Dembele, Witsel, Chadli; Hazard, Mertens; Lukaku
Belgium are hot favourites with bet365 to win this fixture, priced at 4/9, while Scotland can be backed at 8/1. Meanwhile, the draw is 7/2.
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Belgium fell short in their goal of winning the World Cup in the summer, yet Roberto Martinez’s men came very close to getting their hands on the trophy for the first time. A pragmatic France side got the better of them in the semi-finals, but that was their only blemish in a competition in which they ousted Brazil and came of age as one of the game’s big guns.
Their quest for a major title does not exactly begin at Hampden on Friday – a Nations League clash against Iceland on Tuesday provides that starting point – but it does provide an opportunity to soothe any wounds that may still be open after coming so close in Russia.
Scotland, meanwhile, are simply seeking to build towards reaching the finals of Euro 2020, where Hampden Park will play host to three matches. It has been a long wait of over 20 years since they last graced such a stage but there is optimism that a promising batch of young players might be able to end their drought.
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Historically, this is a fixture that Belgium have much the better of, having won 10 of the previous 17 meetings and losing only four. It would be a shock if they did not enhance those statistics in Glasgow on Friday.