Will the golden generation come good, finally?
Belgium will be looking to go all the way (Photo: AFP)
Belgium once again travel to a World Cup looking to deliver on high expectations. Blessed with a talented group of young players, this may be the year that they finally click and put up a proper challenge for the trophy.
It’s their golden generation, and they would know it’s their time to finally live up to the billing. It’s time to deliver on the grandest stage of them all — the World Cup.
Their best performance came in the 1986 edition when they reached the semi-finals, which they lost to eventual winners Argentina. In the last edition, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals.
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Many are tipping Belgium to challenge for the title in Russia, and with players like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, just to name a few, it’s hard to disagree. They will be the underdogs, but they would’t care one bit.
They would love to put on a show, and take the world by storm.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas Meunier (Paris St-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur).
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Brom), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United).
Eden Hazard, Chelsea
There aren’t many better players than Hazard when he is on song. He can turn any game on its head. His ability to commit defenders, force mistakes and create for himself or others will be particularly crucial against teams Belgium are likely to come up against in Russia.
Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
Coming on the back of an another stellar season for Manchester City, De Bruyne goes into the World Cup as a Premier League champion and in the form of his life. He sees passes that do not even occur to most other players and when his game clicks into top gear, no defence can stop him.
He will be as important a player for his country as he is at the club level, there is no doubt about that.
Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham Hotspur
Kompany’s fitness issues, coupled with Martinez’s decision to name only six natural defenders in his World Cup squad, ensure that Vertonghen’s steadying influence at the back will be all the more vital. He is mobile and versatile enough to shift to the left if Yannick Ferreira Carrasco proves too much of a liability, and his understanding with Tottenham teammate Toby Alderweireld is also a plus.
One to watch
Thorgan Hazard, Borussia Monchengladbach
Forever in the shadow of his older brother Eden, Thorgan has built an impressive career for himself since signing permanently for Borussia Monchengladbach from Chelsea in 2015. He registered 10 goals and five assists in the Bundesliga last season, and his intelligent movement and eye for goal can offer Belgium a valuable threat off the bench in Russia. He might prove to be a surprise.
Belgium vs Panama , Monday 18 June
Belgium vs Tunisia, Saturday 23 June
Belgium vs England, Thursday 28 June
Make it to the quarter-finals and crash out against Brazil.
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