Today is the first day of the Playoffs to see who will be crowned champions of Belgium for 2021-22. The top four clubs from the ‘regular season’ – Union Saint-Gilloise, Club Brugge, Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp – will play each other twice, home and away. The twist is that the points gained to-date have been… Read More »
With the World Cup just eight months away, Roberto Martinez will have been watching the recent friendly games with interest. However, he’s a coach that believes in continuity, and he probably has the names of 19 of his 23-man squad nailed down. Leander Dendoncker and Hans Vanaken were always likely to be in the 23… Read More »
By selecting players with fewer than 50 caps for the two friendlies (vs. Ireland and Burkina Faso), Roberto Martinez undoubtedly pleased those such as Kevin de Buyne and Romelu Lukaku, but he hardly learnt anything that could be useful for the World Cup. The side he sent out in Dublin on Saturday mostly consisted of… Read More »
For tonight’s match with Ireland in Dublin, Roberto Martinez has excluded all those with over 50 caps. So no place for Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and a few more of the usual suspects. This doesn’t mean that Martinez will make sweeping changes for the forthcoming World Cup, but it will give him a chance… Read More »
Ten facts about Roberto Martinez’s squad for the Euros, some of which you may not know. Which club’s academy has had the most influence? Which club has supplied the most players to the 26? How many of them have never played in the Belgian League? How many centurions are there? And how many teenagers? All… Read More »
Roberto Martinez’s men return to Brussels tonight, after an absence of eight months, to face Greece in a friendly match ahead of the 2020 Euros. There won’t be any fans in the stadium and also absent will be Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. The only certainty to start is Club Brugge’s Simon… Read More »
Last week, Marc Wilmots gave an interview to Le Soir. Asked about Belgium’s chances in the Euros, he was positive, saying that Belgium had not yet peaked and could still improve. Wiimots argued that if everyone were fit and on-form, they could win trophies. Looking back to his own time in charge of the squad,… Read More »
Youri Tielemans match-winning strike for Leicester City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday was widely praised around Europe. He’s no overnight sensation. Talented, mature and a natural leader, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise that when the 2026 World Cup comes around, his name might be one that is frequently mentioned as… Read More »
On Monday, Roberto Martinez will name a 28 man-squad (26 plus 2 reserves) for the 2020 Euros. There are unlikely to be too many surprises, with Martinez being happy to depend on the players who performed so well for him in Brazil. His main concerns are currently around two of his most experienced players, with… Read More »
Eighteen months ago, Belgium lost to France in the Krestovsky stadium in Saint Petersburg. It was a crushing defeat and some observers felt that this generation had thrown away their last chance of winning a major trophy. Now Roberto Martinez’s team are back and although there’s a long way to go before the final of… Read More »