EURO countdown (5 days to go) - Belgium and France, now or never

Didier Deschamps' last cut for the UEFA EURO 2000 serves as proof of almost unprecedented strength and quality of a contemporary French national side. You can easily build a title-worth team with the likes of those scraped off: Illan Meslier, Theo Hernandez, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, Tanguy Ndombele, Houssem Aouar, Jonathan Ikone, Alexandre Lacazette, and Anthony Martial.

Saying these XI could clinch a point or two confronted with the best European squads would be such an understatement. So it tells you a lot about the skills and versatility of those called up to represent France at this EURO. The current world champions and the runners-up from the last edition of EURO's should take this tournament by storm. A perfect one, if you ask us.

They already know who the glory looks like (©Tom Jenkins)

The offensive trio Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, and reinvented Kareem Benzema spreads out fear among the other contenders for the crown. The fact they're backed with such midfielder artillery coming from clinical Ngolo Kante, Paul Pogba and Kingsley Coman tells a story of its own. Even their defensive line - comprised of Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Kunde, Clement Lenglet, Benjamin Pavard, and Raphael Varane - looks paramount. If the ball ever comes near their goal, there is experienced Hugo Lloris to stop every single attempt of the opposite attackers.

Unlike their neighbours, Belgians have - it seems, at least - passed their peak. This is their very last chance to clinch the silverware, with many of their stars slowly marching towards the veteran's days. However, the names of unplayable Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco, Christian Benteke, and Toby Alderweireld deserve significant respect.

Their bench is packed with a dozen once-mercurials like Mertens, Witsel, Chadli, Vermaelen, and Vertonghen. What remains the most undefined part of Belgium's equation is definitely Eden Hazard. Real Madrid's playmaker - that spent the most of last two seasons sidelined for injury - doesn't seem prepared to take his camaraderie all the way to the finals. Still, suppose their tactician Roberto Martinez finds a way to deploy tactics using Hazard's creative solutions. In that case, they could go much further than four years ago when they were shockingly swept off in the quarter-finals by Gareth Bale's Wales.

Dissimilar to France, Belgiums have an easy task in the preliminary round. At least, it looks like that in prospect. Two Scandinavian sides - Finland and Denmark - shouldn't cause too many problems for the Red Devils, and Russia is miles away from that fearless outfit back in 2008.

A million dolar question... Eden Hazard (©Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

We hope Hazard and co. have decided to make this tour their swansong. If so, it will be the closest thing to art you'll see on a football pitch for a long, long time.