Ex-Red Devils Lukaku and Rangnick face off in a EURO 2024 qualifier

Three rounds before the end of the EURO 2024 Qualifiers, Austria and Belgium are on the verge of going to the continental championship finals. Both teams have 13 points apiece, seven more than the Group F disappointment Sweden, who collected only six points and has already said goodbye to their hopes.

Austria and Belgium drew 1-1 in Brussels a few months ago. Romelu Lukaku then saved his side from a home loss against Ralf Rangnick's squad.

The two former Red Devils will meet again tonight, although Belgium is severely hurt by a long list of injured players comprised of the likes of Thibaut Courtois (although he aslo retired, at least temporarly, from the national team), Kevin de Bruyne and Leandro Trossard.

Manchester City's winger Jeremy Doku and Atalanta's Charles de Ketelaere are expected to step up and replace the sidelined stars.

Royal Antwerp's talented 21-year-old holding midfielder of Guinean roots, Mandel Keita, should make his Belgium debut.

Lukaku scored four goals for AS Roma in the last three Serie A games, thus announcing his big return to his previous form. The robust attacker netted twice recently against Estonia, along with Vertonghen, Trossard and De Ketelaere.

On the other hand, Rangnick's Austria are undefeated in the last eight matches, six of which they have won. The Belgians are in a series of three triumphs in the qualifiers without conceding a single goal.

The massive margin between the two on one, and Sweden on the other side, will certainly affect the Friday fixture. We should see a bit more relaxed game, and both would be happy even with a draw, as only a miracle could prevent them from making it to the finals.

EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS

Thursday

Latvia - Armenia 2-0 (1-0)

/Ikaunieks 39, Balodis 68/

Cyprus - Norway 0-4 (0-1)

/Sorloth 33, Haaland 65, 72, Aursnes 81/

Andorra - Kosovo 0-2 (0-1)

/Rashica 26, 71/

Belarus - Romania 0-0

Croatia - Turkey 0-1 (0-1)

/Yilmaz 30/

Spain - Scotland 2-0 (0-0)

/Morata 74, Sancet 86/

Faroe I. - Poland 0-2 (0-1)

/Szymanski 4, Buksa 65/

Albania - Czech R. 3-0 (1-0)

/Asani 9, Seferi 51, 73/

Friday

19.00: (2.35) Estonia (3.20) Azerbaijan (3.50)

21.45: (1.23) Portugal (6.25) Slovakia (13.0)

21.45: (3.20) Netherlands (3.40) France (2.25)

21.45: (1.85) Iceland (3.60) Luxembourg (4.80)

21.45: (2.85) Austria (3.40) Belgium (2.60)

21.45: (25.0) Liechtenstein (13.0) B&H (1.07)

21.45: (2.45) R.Ireland (3.15) Greece (3.30)

Saturday

16.00: (1.65) Ukraine (3.90) Macedonia (6.25)

16.00: (1.02) N.Ireland (22.0) San Marino (95.0)

19.00: (1.58) Bulgaria (3.90) Lithuania (7.25)

19.00: (1.95) Slovenia (3.50) Finland (4.40)

21.45: (2.75) Hungary (3.20) Serbia (2.85)

21.45: (1.18) Denmark (8.50) Kazakhstan (16.0)

21.45: (1.03) Italy (20.0) Malta (95.0)

***odds are subject to change***