Team Preview – Belgium
Manager: Marc Wilmots. Wilmots had a successful playing career in Belgium and Germany with Standard Liege and Schalke in particular. At international level, he scored 28 goals in 70 international appearances. Wilmots went with the Red Devils to four World Cup final tournaments and scored goals at France 98 and Korea/Japan 2002 to become his nation’s highest ever goal scorer at the finals. Since becoming manager of the national team in 2012, Wilmots has since led Belgian football back to football’s top table with a high tempo game using fluid and flexible tactics. He has also enjoyed a political career that saw him sit in the Belgian senate for two years.
Star player: Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) is the national captain and leader at his club side where his strong presence in defence and imposing character leads to many goals at the other end of the pitch. Kompany is coming off a trophy laden successful season in the EPL and will be primed for a solid, if not spectacular World Cup.
Who to look out for: This current crop of players has Belgian fans excited with the pick of a very talented crop of players being Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) and Dries Mertens (Napoli) among many other exciting players in the Belgian squad.
The draw: Belgium are well placed to advance, placed in Group H alongside Russia, ranked 18th and appearing for the first time since 2002, Algeria who have qualified previously in 1982, 1986 and 2010, ranked 25th and Korea Republic who make Brazil their 9th finals appearance and 8th in a row and ranked 55th. Russia pose the greatest threat in this group with Korea and Algeria both transitioning many young inexperienced players into their respective World Cup squads.
Prediction: Round of 16. Belgium may have a group that is easier to navigate than others but the cross over after the group stage is quite daunting. The aligning group contains Germany and Portugal and meeting either of these could mean a likely exit for the Red Devils. An upset against the group G runner up is possible though leading to the quarter finals, but the second round is a safe bet.
Fact: Currently ranked 12th in the world, Belgium are back at the Mundial with a bang. Belgian football fans are amongst the most fanatical in the world. Their numbers attending games and the accompanying media throng watching every move of the Red Devils is almost unmatched worldwide. Books, songs, comic strips and special dance events that all encompass Belgian football are currently in high demand and huge community events planned around the country will peak in Brazil when Belgium appear at the finals for the first time since 2002.
Previous World Cup appearance(s): 1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1970 (1st round), 1982 (2nd round), 1986 (4th place), 1990, 1994 (Round of 16), 1998 (1st round), 2002 (Round of 16).
Extra time: Belgium will enjoy their 12th appearance at the World cup Finals in Brazil and are one of only 13 nations to have made the journey to Uruguay for the first edition in 1930. This rich history entitles Belgium to a unique place in football history. Their finals record is extraordinary for a nation of just 11 million people as they have advanced out of their group at the finals five of the last six occasions with a 4th place at Mexico 86 the pinnacle. The only time they did not advance at France 1998 they still went home unbeaten after three draws.
