Belgium’s youngsters back on the Euro 2012 track

March 25, 2011, might be seen as the day that Belgium’s “golden generation” finally began to show a little sparkle. By winning 2-0 in Vienna, Georges Leekens’ team showed that they could play both collectively and with a certain amount of maturity. Importantly, the match was won without either of the two players who usually command 80 per cent of the headlines: Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard. The slightly injured Lukaku was replaced by the hardworking Marvin Ogunjimi, with Hazard – to everyone’s astonishment – being left on the bench.

Leekens was proved correct as Moussa Dembélé and Nacer Chadli, on his full debut, showed that they had what it takes, working the wings tirelessly. There were no weaknesses in a team performance with Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet – another debutant – and Axel Witsel probably the standout performers. Witsel has been in the wilderness since his headline-grabbing clash with Anderlecht’s Marcin Wasilewski and tonight was a major step in his rehabilitation. By scoring both goals, Witsel put himself in the shop window; only last week, the Standard Liege midfielder sdaid he was ready to move on – as long as he went to a club wher ehe would play regularly.

The only false note was Vincent Kompany’s yellow card which means he will miss Tuesday’s clash with Azerbaijan. Leekens could move Jan Vertonghen into the centre and bring in one of two Standard players – Jelle Van Damme or Sébastien Pocognoli – at left back, or he could go for a straight swap and play Zenit’s Nicolas Lombaerts alongside Daniel Van Buyten. Whatever the team is, Belgium cannot afford any slip-ups. Five games to go and they have to win four of them. Winning in Germany will probably be beyond them, but as the banner behind the goal said tonight – Belgium is United.

Table

1. Germany: Played 4 Points 12

2. Belgium: p 5, pts 7

3. Austria: p 4, pts 7

4. Turkey; p 4, pts 6

5. Azerbaijan: p 3, pts 3

6. Kazakhstan: p 4, pts 0.