It’s difficult to know where to start when writing about the Belgium team ahead of tonight’s friendly match with Australia. So much has been happening off the pitch since the World Cup, it’s not easy to say much about the forthcoming game that is at all relevant. For the past couple of years, the Belgium… Read More »
I’ve been watching Belgian football for many years. I don’t like criticising it but with the league season starting today, I’m in a negative mood. I’ve seen some top players and great characters in the Belgian league: Pär Zetterberg, Walter Baseggio, Gert Verheyen, Jan Koller, Timmy Simons, Vincent Kompany, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut… Read More »
Tomorrow, Belgium will play its most important game for 12 years. On 17 June, 2002, Belgium lost 2-0 to Brazil in a match remembered by Belgians for Marc Wilmots’ disallowed goal. Now Wilmots is back and he’s in charge of a group known variously as ‘a golden generation’, ‘dark horses’ or ‘everyone’s favourite second team’.… Read More »
It was 20 years ago today – give or take a few days – the Belgian team seemed to lose its way! Twenty years ago, almost to the day, Belgium faced Saudi Arabia after having won their first two games in the World Cup. With Georges Grün having already picked up a yellow card, coach… Read More »
1. Belgium’s record in the qualifiers – seven goals at home, 11 on the road – show that they are happier playing on the break when teams come at them. This means their chances could improve as they advance in the competition. 2. The selection of the midfield trio is still a problem for Marc… Read More »
Ahead of Belgium’s clash with Russia on Sunday, Marc Wilmots has getting a bit tetchy with the press. He walked out on one session after a Flemish journalist from Sporza asked how Vincent Kompany’s groin strain was coming along. He’s also been receiving criticism for not initially selecting a team that could beat Algeria and… Read More »
It’s been a long time since Belgium played their last match in a major tournament, 12 years in fact since they lost to Brazil in Kobe. Marc Wilmots had a valid goal disallowed but he’ll have forgotten that now as he focuses on taking his team as far as possible in the 2014 edition. Wilmots… Read More »
Championship Playoffs Tonight could see key moments in both the first and second division playoffs. Most eyes will be on the match at Waregem where Francky Dury’s team play Anderlecht. Other games will see second place Club Brugge go to Genk and third place Standard visit Lokeren. If Anderlecht win tonight and on Sunday against… Read More »
Here’s the official list of 23 players (plus a possible keeper replacement) who will go to Brazil. My immediate reactions are: a) Radja Nainggolan is the most unlucky of the players who could travel, especially as Timmy Simons is out. b) The striking options seem limited – Divock Origi is untested; Kevin Mirallas will need… Read More »
Last week I wrote extensively about Marc Wilmots’ options for Brazil. Today, he’ll announce a group of 27 – including four keepers – as a pre-selection. Given the number of certainties and ‘highly likely to travel’ candidates, it could be that a group of four or five players will be competing for a couple of… Read More »