It may still be the group stages, but, for these two, the knockout begins now. Defeat for either country tonight means elimination, while, even if Turkey win, they must wait to hear how Sweden fare against Italy before knowing if they will go through.

The 0-0 draw between the Swedes and the Turks last Thursday in Eindhoven has left them with identical records before kick-off. With Italy already group winners, the prize at stake is a meeting with Portugal in Amsterdam on Saturday.

Belgium will have forfeited home advantage therefore and will not play again at home, even if the unlikely happens and they get to the final, so they will want to make the most of a Brussels atmosphere tonight. "If we stick together we can move mountains," said Marc Wilmots, Belgium's inspirational midfielder.

A draw will be enough, and, though manager Robert Waseige has injury concerns over his goalkeeper Filip de Wilde and Marc Hendrikx, a substitute against Italy, both are expected to recover. Branko Strupar, however, is not expected to be fit, giving Luc Nilis, a better player than Strupar anyway, his first start.

For Turkey, Muzzy Izzet of Leicester City is the major doubt after limping off with a badly bruised ankle against Sweden. With their talented Galatasaray nucleus, Turkey have disappointed. There were chants for the head of the manager Mustafa Denizli midway through the Sweden game and they will get louder tonight if Turkey go out.