If Roberto Martinez opts for the starting XI shown in the infographic below, the average age of the Belgian team will not be much lower than that of the team aligned once morest France, in the semi-finals of the League of Nations, which was approaching a standard team.
In October, the Red Devils showed up with an average age of 28.9. This Saturday night, she might be 26.4 years old. The presence of Mignolet (34), Boyata (31) and Vanaken (29) would indeed balance the scales.
Where the difference is obvious is in the experience. In October, Roberto Martinez’s eleven had an average of 82 caps, with five centenarians who were in the game: Jan Vertonghen (133), Toby Alderweireld (117), Axel Witsel (117), Eden Hazard (114) and Romelu Lukaku (101).
In Dublin, she might barely average 24 wraps. Only two Devils are at forty caps or more (Youri Tielemans, 47 and Thorgan Hazard, 41), three are at thirty or more (Michy Batshuayi, 39; Jason Denayer, 33; Simon Mignolet, 31) and Dedryck Boyata has 29 caps. All the other Devils are within 20 caps: Hans Vanaken (17), Leandro Trossard (14), Alexis Saelemaekers (7), Charles De Ketelaere (4) and Arthur Theate (1).
If Leander Dendoncker starts, he will fit perfectly into the average. The midfielder from Wolverhampton is 26 years old, and is at 24 caps.
