Belgium vs. Italy: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

Belgium, currently the top-ranked team in the world by FIFA, take on four-time World Cup winners Italy in an intriguing friendly in Brussels on Friday.

Both teams have qualified for the 2016 European Championship, so the pair will be looking to test themselves against top opposition before the tournament.

There will undoubtedly be an array of stars on show for both sides, giving the friendly something of a showpiece feel.

Here are the viewing details for this exciting clash:

Date: Friday, November 13

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT / 2:45 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN 3 (US)

Live Stream: ESPN Player

Team News

Belgium manager Marc Wilmots (h/t Sky Sports) confirmed on Twitter that Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini and Jordan Lukaku—brother of Everton's Romelu—will miss both of the squad's friendlies.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Kevin Mirallas and Sven Kums have been called up in their stead. 

Belgium have suffered a further blow, as Tottenham Hotspur's Mousa Dembele is a doubt, having missed training with a calf injury, per Glenn Bogaert of Belgian outlet HLN (h/t Arunava Ray of the International Business Times).

Andrea Pirlo has missed out on a call-up following the end of the Major League Soccer season.

Per Sky Sports, Italy manager Antonio Conte said:

"

He is a player who I hold in high esteem, and he knows this, but I must be cold in my analysis. Andrea will be 37 by next year's European Championship and we will have to see.

The start of the season in the U.S. will be in March, so I will have to make my evaluation and consider the possibility that I can't take him to the Euros.

"

Football Italia anticipate the Azzurri will use an attacking 4-4-2 formation, having practised in training with Eder and Graziano Pelle up top, while Alessandro Florenzi and Antonio Candreva will provide the threat out wide.

Belgium Predicted Line-Up: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Nainggolan, Witsel, Ferreira Carrasco, De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku.

Italy Predicted Line-Up: Buffon; Darmian, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Sciglio; Candreva, Parolo, Marchisio, Florenzi; Eder, Pelle.

Preview

Belgium were fairly rampant in the qualifying for Euro 2016, finishing top of Group B having scored 24 goals in 10 games—a tally bettered only by England and Poland.

Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press

Star man Eden Hazard has struggled for Chelsea thus far this season but hasn't had the same problem with Belgium, per sports journalist Chris Slegg:

The midfielder is potentially on the verge of a return to form domestically, with the Mirror's John Cross noting his impressive performance for the Blues in their last outing, despite his side losing to Stoke City:

Fellow Premier League stars Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku have been outstanding for their clubs with 15 goals and 11 assists accrued between them, so along with a possibly resurgent Hazard, the Red Devils will be hoping for a win on Friday.

By contrast, Italy haven't fared so well going forward under Conte, as they managed just 16 goals in qualifying. BeIN Sports' Matteo Bonetti was particularly critical of them during their 1-0 win over Malta:

"

Uninspiring Italy side lacking any sort of fluidity or ideas to break down Malta's fort.

— Matteo Bonetti (@TheCalcioGuy) September 3, 2015"

The Azzurri are typically tough to break down, though, and with the likes of Florenzi, Pelle and Eder in strong form, they will be a threat to Belgium on the break.

Italy have lost just once in their last eight meetings with Belgium, and despite the Red Devils' home advantage, they are more than capable of eking out a draw in Brussels at least.