Half of the Belgian squad play in the Premier League. Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany are arguably more famous than their counterparts in Roy Hodgson’s squad. But not every Belgian footballer is a household name and of those on the fringes of the national team, by far the most interesting is a player who’s better… Read More »
Marc Wilmots has announced the Belgian squad to meet the Ivory Coast next week and there are no shocks. In keeping with previous squads, Wilmots is sticking with his trusted players regardless of whether they play regularly with their clubs. Of the 23-man squad, only one position is genuinely up for grabs – reserve right… Read More »
Early in the 2011-2012 season, Racing Genk’s Dutch coach Mario Been warned Kevin De Bruyne about signing for a big club only to rot on the bench. De Bruyne should have been so lucky. Been’s prophecy has come true but the young midfielder has not even made the Chelsea bench in most games and he’s… Read More »
In order to start booking flights to Rio, the Belgian FA needs to see its team take one point from the final two qualifying matches against Croatia and Wales. Assuming there is no catastrophic collapse, it’s time to look at the options for the 23 names that Marc Wilmots can choose from. Wilmots has a… Read More »
Six members of the Belgian international squad have changed clubs this summer. Some of those moves have been smart ones; others seem more of a risk. Here’s a rundown on those who have changed clubs and what their expectations could be. Marouane Fellaini (Everton to Manchester United) Fellaini’s last-minute move to Manchester United will give… Read More »
Ahead of the match with Scotland, Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois spoke to journalists from the Belgian paper La Dernière Heure. Here’s what he said about Chelsea, Peter Cech, the World Cup and Simon Mignolet. On staying at Atletico Madrid “Chelsea and José Mourinho wanted me to return to Stamford Bridge this season, either that or… Read More »
Back in August, I was asked a few questions about Marouane Fellaini – then a target for several clubs. Now he’s joined Manchester United, it’s worth adding them to the blog. Interview re. Marouane Fellaini (15 August, 2013) Q. Marouane Fellaini spent two years with Standard Liege in Belgium before moving to Everton in 2008.… Read More »
Twente midfielder Nacer Chadli has signed for Spurs for a fee of €7 million. The fee is low as he’s out of contract in the summer. Chadli is a member of the Belgium national squad and played in the last World Cup qualifier against Serbia in June. It’s an excellent signing for Spurs and at… Read More »
Anthony Vanden Borre was once rated, along with Vincent Kompany, as one of the Anderlecht academy’s success stories. Then it all went wrong and his career seemed to be over. Last season, though, he returned to the Brussels club but hardly featured in the first team. He had quite a bit of competition in the… Read More »
Belgium face Serbia knowing that a draw will guarantee them a place in the World Cup qualifier playoffs as they will finish second at worst. That won’t be enough for them as the team, the coach, the fans and the country are all more optimistic about success than they have ever been before. The whole… Read More »