Gill Swerts wants to avoid past mistakes before the U21 Euro

In the twilight of Wednesday evening, the Danish stadium saw Belgium U21 face Denmark, the match ending in a 0‑0 draw that confirmed the Devils' qualification for the Euro U21, which will be played this summer in Albania and Serbia.

Successful qualification in Albania and Serbia

It's done, Belgium won Group I with 17 points out of 24, edging Denmark by a narrow margin. This performance was sealed thanks to the 0‑0 draw obtained in Denmark, which allowed the Devils to confirm their place at the U21 European Championship.

Offensive and defensive statistics

Across the eight matches, the Belgian U21s scored more than one goal in only two games, tallying 13 goals for and just two goals conceded. The 0‑7 defeat to Wales, however, marred a campaign where the offensive numbers remain modest despite a pool of talent available.

In defence, the solidity was remarkable: six clean sheets were recorded and the other two matches saw only one goal conceded. This defensive stability largely contributed to the qualification, even though the offensive efficiency will need to be boosted before the tournament.

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Stakes and choices of Gil Swerts

The U21 Euro will take place from 16 June to 3 July in Albania and Serbia, offering the Belgian prospects a second chance after the 2025 elimination against the Czech Republic. Gil Swerts, now at the head of the squad, does not want to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor Jacky Mathijssen in 2023.

Technical director Gil Swerts stresses the need to avoid past errors, notably the selection of U21 players who did not take part in the qualifiers but are eligible. This lesson is reinforced by the 2023 experiences, where selection choices did not bear fruit.

Among the called-up players, Loïs Openda and Charles De Ketelaere, already involved with the senior team, did not find the back of the net during the tournament, although Openda provided an assist to Yorbe Vertessen against Portugal. This situation illustrates the difficulty of relying on players who are not fully integrated into the qualifying phases.

The pool of eligible players remains exceptional: Roméo Lavia, Diego Moreira, Kyriani Sabbe, Matias Fernandez‑Pardo, Joaquin Seys, Malick Fofana, Mika Godts and Mike Penders, all born after 1 January 2004, meet the age criteria for the tournament. Their presence gives Gil Swerts multiple options to strengthen the squad before departure.