Belgium (National Football)

Manchester City money well spent? 

If Kevin De Bruyne's first competitive game since his big-money switch back to the Premier League is any indication, then yes. 

Just before half-time in Belgium's European qualifying match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Belgian made a quick turn and fired home to give the Red Devils a 2-1 advantage at the break. 

One could also make the argument that the goalkeeper should have dealt with the shot better. 

Not long before , Marouane Fellaini had equalised for the hosts. 

Edin Dzeko opened the scoring with a powerful headed goal from distance. 

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A few eyebrows were raised when Belgium rose to No. 2 in the world rankings earlier this week, but they lived up to the hype on Sunday night during the first half of their friendly with France in Paris. 

The Belgians went in at the break leading, 2-0, with Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini getting both the goals. 

Belgium currently 1-0 up in Paris thanks to Fellaini http://t.co/IoaBBeEsyu

— 138.com (@138dotcom) June 7, 2015

His first was a close-range strike, with his second a trademark header.

With those two goals, he continued his great run of international form. 

Belgium were not done there, though, as Radja Nainggolan made it 3-0 early in the second half.

France finally got on the scoresheet thanks to a Mathieu Valbuena penalty in the 53rd minute.

But then Eden Hazard put Belgium 4-1 up just a minute later with a spot-kick of his own.

France did at least score two late goals just before the end of the match from Nabil Fekir (89') and Dimitri Payet (90') to make the final score 3-4. 

Eden Hazad inscrit le 4ème but belge ! 1-4 ! https://t.co/BTZmdKf1p8

— L'Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) June 7, 2015

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It is a frequently told tale that once seemed to say everything about Belgium’s wait to reach maturity, though today it is little more than an amusing anecdote. You know it already; the one about Eden Hazard ducking out of the Roi Baudouin to have a burger with his dad—after he was substituted in a Euro 2012 against Turkey in June 2011, and with the game still going on, as recalled by The Standard.

Much has changed since then, of course. Hazard has flourished into a bona-fide world star at Chelsea, and Belgium’s boys have become men, reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in the summer (and only exiting to eventual finalists Argentina). Yet something wasn’t quite right in Brazil, and it certainly isn’t right today.

Now, with Belgium a miserable fourth in their qualifying group for Euro 2016 after an uninspiring goalless draw with Wales on Sunday, the image of Hazard’s unscheduled snack has resurfaced, as Marc Wilmots’ team again struggle to find their range in attempting to reach a first European Championship since they co-hosted in 2000.

The current stutter is reminiscent of that qualifying campaign four years back, even if that unfolded under Wilmots’ predecessor Georges Leekens, to whom he was assistant. Back then, the promise of the new generation was clear but not quite enough to take Belgium to Poland and Ukraine.

It’s too early to hit the panic button just yet, of course, but there are warning signs that must be heeded. The starkest of those signs lies directly below Les Diables Rouges in the Group B table, where Bosnia-Herzegovina look almost spent on a mere two points (and two goals) from their opening four games. It is a mess that has pushed coach Safet Susic to the exit door, as reported by Yahoo.

Belgium aren’t in such dire straits, with three points more in the bank, having played a game less. They are too good to let themselves get into that sort of trouble, you might think. Many supporters of a Bosnian side who can count on Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic, to name but two, might have thought the same.

The current stodgy run of Wilmots’ team might be said to have a little more in common with a couple of Europe’s superpowers who have struggled to get going so far; world champions Germany and World Cup semi-finalists the Netherlands have both been slow out of the blocks.

Yet Belgium were far from fluent in Brazil, too. In their opener against Algeria, after going a goal down, they needed the sledgehammer presence of Marouane Fellaini to crack Les Fennecs’ resistance. Against a dominant Russia, a late goal by another substitute, Divock Origi, stole a win. In the last 16 against the US, Belgium were hanging on for dear life after Julian Green pulled a goal back.

The need to adopt drastic threads of change in-game in an attempt to flip the script suggests that many of Wilmots’ original plans aren’t working. There is much to recommend his work in charge of the national team—at 20 years Leekens’ junior, he certainly relates to the younger generation much better—but he again seemed to miss a trick tactically against Wales.

The decision to start with Origi, signed by Liverpool but still learning his trade with Lille (the club that launched him) on loan, was a debatable one, albeit perhaps informed by Christian Benteke’s current lack of sharpness. Potential match-winners such as Romelu Lukaku and Adnan Januzaj sat unused on the bench, as did the powerful Radja Nainggolan.

Realistically, Belgium should still reach the finals tournament in France. Yet the stellar football suggested by a mouthwatering squad just isn’t happening. In terms of their development as an international team, Hazard and company are still in the starting blocks.

This Belgium team were, of course, greatly hyped before the World Cup. A fine collection of young players were their version of the golden generation, following the likes of the Figo and Rui Costa era Portugal, and of course, the Beckham, Gerrard, Cole and Rooney England team.

This hype turned them from dark horses into genuine contenders, and an impressive qualifying campaign in which they sauntered through unbeaten, the only blemishes being two draws, only served to back up the suggestion that the Belgians were live contenders.

However, despite reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup and eventually going out to Argentina, not in itself a disgrace of any description, they were in truth pretty disappointing in Brazil. Fairly listless performances in the group stage earned narrow wins over Algeria, Russia and South Korea, before just holding on against a relatively ordinary USA side in the second round.

Of course, three group victories is not something to be sniffed at, especially when one considers the illustrious teams that crashed out with nary a whimper in the first round, but there was the constant sense that there should have been more from this Belgian side.

Plenty of that was down to some truly listless performances by Eden Hazard. The Chelsea man was supposed to be Belgium's best player and creative fulcrum, but for long spells of the World Cup he was simply anonymous, a passenger who looked like he wanted to turn on his creativity when he felt like it.

Elko Born wrote about Hazard's disappointing performance elsewhere on Bleacher Report, but while he was obviously very disappointing, the finger of blame for their lacklustre exit must be pointed at coach Marc Wilmots.

Wilmots had at his disposal perhaps the finest collection of talent ever to be gathered in Belgium, but his indecision and tinkering made them listless and disjointed.

Indeed, while losing to a side like Argentina with one of the greatest players of all time in their ranks is hardly something to wring one's hands over, Alejandro Sabella's team were not especially impressive in this game.

Indeed, Wilmots himself seemed to recognise this, quoted by the Guardian as saying:

We were not impressed by the Argentinians. They are just an ordinary team. It’s not a missed opportunity. Do you think Argentina played a good match? People complained about our performances in our first three matches but this is what football is all about.

I’m not saying Argentina can’t be world champions: they have Di María and Messi, two of the top five players in the world. But how many shots did they have?

Seriously. If we’d played this way we’d have been destroyed by the Belgian press. We have a bit to learn. We lacked a little something, and sometimes we didn’t make the right choices.

It was a curious defence of their exit, because by claiming Argentina were "ordinary," Wilmots simply underlined his own under-performance. If indeed they were so "ordinary," then surely this Belgium team with their myriad talents should have done more against them.

The way Wilmots managed his team throughout the tournament was curious, chopping and changing players with seemingly little logic, highlighting his indecision by bringing in players who had done well in flashes of substitute appearances, such as Marouane Fellaini, who started against Russia having scored against Algeria from the bench, and ditto Divock Origi.

This, of course, was perhaps a tournament too soon for this collection of players, and France 2016 might be a better time to judge whether they have fulfilled their potential, and indeed whether Wilmots has made the most of it.

However, it is difficult to argue that in Brazil 2014, Wilmots has failed to get the most from his star player in Hazard, and indeed from the whole of this Belgium team.

On Saturday, Belgium were knocked out of the World Cup by Argentina, who shoved the Rode Duivels aside by scoring the goal of the match early in the first half, consequently qualifying themselves for the semi-final of the tournament.

In this suspenseful, but for Belgium unfulfilling, quarter-final, Argentina showed they possessed what their opponents have so desperately lacked this World Cup: a star player who could pick his team up from the ground by inspiring them to new heights and scoring goals when it matters most.

Only seven minutes had passed when Gonzalo Higuain, the striker playing in the shadow of captain and national hero Lionel Messi, struck the ball fabulously and thumped it past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. A stroke of luck was certainly involved before the ball arrived at Higuain’s feet, but there’s no denying it was an excellent finish.

It came at the right time, too. With almost the entire match still ahead of them, the Rode Duivels were immediately forced to battle and push forward, while Argentina sat on roses, relieved of some of the pressure and biding their time.

Eden Hazard tried to change things around, drifting toward the centre from his position out wide, looking increasingly desperate to get ahold of the ball. But for all the talent the Chelsea man possesses, it didn’t come out this World Cup. Like in the group stages, Hazard’s attempts to pierce through the opposition’s defence were smothered time and time again.

Divock Origi, who had replaced Romelu Lukaku after two successful appearances as a substitute, remained largely invisible, and just like Hazard, he was taken off before full-time. So too was Kevin Mirallas, who was replaced by Nacer Chadli near the end of the match, completing manager Marc Wilmots’ trio of attacking substitutions.

The desired effect was not achieved. Despite the involvement of all these players, the Rode Duivels failed to pick the opposition’s defence apart. Like it had in the group stage, Belgium’s front line never looked dangerous, but instead appeared tame, unable to impose itself now that its team’s fate depended on it.

This, of course, reflected most badly on Hazard, who had just had a breakthrough season at his club, Chelsea. In no way close to the fire he had displayed in the Premier League, the winger and attacking midfielder looked as if he was without any inspiration at all.

It was, perhaps, the lowest point of a disappointing tournament for Hazard, who could have—and arguably should have—been much more decisive for his country. When it mattered most, he failed to do what Higuain had done early on in the match: Change the tide with a touch of individualistic brilliance.

Messi has done it too for Argentina. During the group stage, he scored decisive goals against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria, even when Argentina had failed to impress as a collective. Of course, the team always comes first, but only with players like Messi, and this time Higuain, do you have a chance at winning the World Cup.

If Belgium are to fulfill their potential, then Hazard will have to take his game up a notch ahead of Euro 2016. He will need the form he displayed for Chelsea last season, and he will need to guide his team to international glory.

Only then will Belgium be able to compete with nations like the one that has just knocked them out.

In a match that ended in a dramatic and suspenseful period of extra time, Belgium managed to beat the USA and progress to the quarter-final on Tuesday.

The extra 30 minutes, needed because regular playing time had ended at 0-0, looked open-ended, with the Americans refusing to give up despite being 2-0 behind at one point.

But looked at from a wider perspective, it had been clear for a while that Belgium were most likely to win. Although they have sometimes been condemned as relatively inexperienced on the big stage, they showed character and maturity when it really mattered.

For a long time, especially during the second half, it looked as if Belgium’s goal was imminent. Dominating possession and constantly managing to create chances through clever interplay between Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and later, when he came on, Kevin Mirallas, the Rode Duivels rarely gave the USA any space to breathe.

In the end, it came to extra time before one of Belgium’s many creative midfielders and attackers managed to find the net. After an intelligent run from deep and subsequent pass from Romelu Lukaku, who had just come on and was still fresh, it was De Bruyne who slotted it past American goalkeeper Tim Howard. Not long later, Lukaku himself made it 2-0.

While Howard had seemed, until then, like an unmovable object, it was long clear that the Americans were largely worn out, unable to cope with the pressure the Belgians were putting on them, ball after ball and run after run.

Like a creeping virus, Belgium were slowly but surely putting their stranglehold on the USA, delaying the finish time and again but never putting it out of sight.

Similar scenarios had transpired during Belgium’s group-stage campaign. Against Algeria, the Rode Duivels’ very first match of the tournament, it wasn’t until the dying minutes when the opposition’s defensive wall was finally broken. Against Russia and South Korea, Belgium scored the only and winning goal while nearly being able to hear the final whistle.

Belgium like to keep it late, and that seems to be part of their strategy. Of course, a goal scored earlier in the match would be welcomed by manager Marc Wilmots, but the Rode Duivels’ first priority is always to avoid risk while tiring the opposition out.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they make use of a defensive outset. Although the security added by defensive giants such as Vincent Kompany surely helps, it mainly requires a high work rate and a high level of discipline by the midfield in particular.

With Belgium being creative and fluid up front, then, a goal simply becomes inevitable. At one point, the likes of Hazard and De Bruyne will get what they have been carefully looking for all match long.

Belgium’s squad might be inexperienced when it comes to the big stage, but it is not immature. As it did against Algeria, Russia and South Korea, it showed character and spirit against a highly motivated USA, kept up during a thrilling period of extra time.

It takes patience to win matches the way Belgium are winning their matches, and like a predator slowly tracking the movements of its prey, ready to strike at exactly the right moment, the Rode Duivels have plenty of it.

Ahead of the tournament, some critics highlighted Belgium as one of the dark horses to win the World Cup.

Although it was always clear that such a feat was going to be difficult for the relatively young and inexperienced Rode Duivels, it was also apparent that Belgium had a squad oozing with talent.

At the back, Belgium have Vincent Kompany, captain of Premier League-winning side Manchester City. In midfield, they have the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Axel Witsel, and up front there’s Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard. 

All in all, it’s a fine generation of footballers, largely comprised of players from top competitions like the Premier League and Bundesliga. 

During their qualification campaign, the Belgians played well, winning most of their matches and drawing only a handful. They finished top of their group comfortably. 

For the first time since 1986, Belgium was going to a World Cup with a feeling of confidence and excitement. Gone were the days of their inferiority complex. Belgium had an assortment of players worthy of jealousy. 

Outside of Belgium as well, a lot was expected of the Rode Duivels. There was a new contender on the block, and it was going to be interesting to see how far this newcomer would go. 

But to the surprise of some World Cup spectators, Belgium did not play as impressively as was expected beforehand. Against Algeria, the Rode Duivels were forced to work hard to battle their way to a 2-1 win. The matches against Russia and South Korea were not eventful and ended in 1-0 victories. 

Was this the Belgian side everyone had expected? Was this team really going to bomb forward and make an impression during the knockout stage of the tournament? 

Maybe it was, because in the case of the Rode Duivels, eyes might deceive. During their qualifying campaign, manager Marc Wilmots had employed a style of play that was careful and deliberate. During the World Cup, the Belgians were simply doing what they had been doing all along: scoring just one more goal than the opponent. 

What’s more, the Belgians conceded only once during the group stage, and that was from an unlucky penalty. All in all, the Belgians might not have performed as bad as a first glance would suggest. 

But ahead of Belgium’s round-of-16 clash with USA, there is something else the Rode Duivels should be worried about: Now that there’s no more room for mistakes, how will they react to the pressure? 

While most players in Belgium’s first XI have played in big leagues like the Premier League, very few of Belgium’s players have experience playing under pressure. According to The Telegraph, the average age of Belgium’s squad is 25.3. With an average age of 27.2, USA’s squad is almost two years older. 

Furthermore, Belgium have little knockout-stage experience as a nation. The last World Cup Belgium came far in was held in 1986. Unlike teams like Brazil and Argentina, Belgium have no idea of what it’s like to have the whole world watching you.

During the group stage, Belgium could get away with smash-and-grabs and careful football. In the knockout stage, opponents will not be happy to settle for a draw. Rather, they’ll throw everything they have at the Rode Duivels.

During the knockout stage, there’s a lot more at stake, and a single error can send you home.

How will players who have rarely been in that type of situation react to the pressures that come with this crucial stage of the World Cup? 

Now that it’s all or nothing, the time has come for Belgium to truly show what they’re worth. 

Stand-in captain Jan Vertonghen scored a 77th-minute winner as Belgium secured top spot in Group H with a 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, who crashed out of the 2014 World Cup with just a single point.

It was a poacher’s finish from Tottenham Hotspur defender Vertonghen, who got himself into the box after a Belgium attack to finish past South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, after Divock Origi, again impressing as a substitute, drew an unconvincing parry from his shot.

Midfielder Steven Defour had been sent off just before half-time after a nasty challenge, leaving Marc Wilmots’ side with 10 men for the entirety of the second half, but Hung Myung-bo’s men will have been disappointed with yet another uninspiring showing.

The Belgians completed their group-stage campaign with three wins out of three and will take on the United States in the round of 16, after their 0-1 loss to Germany on the same day saw them finish second in Group G.

But Wilmots will know that his side still needs to improve on a surprising general lack of fluidity given the midfield and attacking talent across his star-studded squad, especially against a USA side high in confidence after qualifying from the tournament’s “Group of Death.”

Belgium Taking Time to Gel and Impress

For all the pre-tournament talk about Belgium being dark horses and having a young and talented squad, despite winning Group H with a 100 per cent record, they have yet to really impose themselves on the World Cup.

Against a relatively easy group—especially compared to the USA’s—with Algeria, South Korea and Russia, it’s been a surprise to see Belgium winning all three games by just a single-goal margin: They ended the group with nine points and a goal difference of just three.

Perhaps a misfiring Romelu Lukaku (more on him later) has been the main reason, and that a fit Christian Benteke would’ve given them the attacking impetus and thrust that they needed. But it’s not just been Lukaku that has failed to impress: Even the likes of Eden Hazard and Nacer Chadli have disappointed, the latter losing his place to Dries Mertens after an unconvincing first game against Algeria.

A strong midfield provides an excellent base for the Belgian attack, but the fact that Wilmots’ first-choice defence doesn’t feature a single out-and-out full-back may be a factor in their disjointed performances, despite Vertonghen scoring his winner on Thursday.

Curiously, Vertonghen became Belgium’s first starting player to score a goal in the World Cup since Wilmots himself in 2002. Ultimately, it may not be a problem in Wilmots’ selections, but there are no two ways about it: Belgium should be doing much better than they are.

A Change in Approach for Wilmots?

Such is the depth and strength of the Belgian World Cup squad, that Wilmots could afford to make some changes to his starting XI on Thursday and still emerge from the tunnel with a team oozing excitement and class.

But while it could’ve been purely a plan to give some of his bench players a good run-out against a South Korea squad weak on paper, Wilmots’ decision to drop misfiring Lukaku, who has disappointed with a couple of pedestrian displays this summer, for a more dynamic and interchanging forward line of Kevin Mirallas, Dries Mertens and Adnan Januzaj was a bold choice.

They didn’t get on the scoresheet, but Mertens’ direct style continued to shine, while Mirallas mirrored his contributions up front and Januzaj offered creativity and a close control that is arguably unique in a midfield more known for its power and physicality.

Could this be how Wilmots approaches his round of 16 tie with the USA next Tuesday? Even taking into consideration Hazard’s likely return to the starting lineup, this style, without a recognizable and traditional center forward, could be the key to unlocking a more coherent attacking performance from the Belgians.

With Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel in top form so far this tournament—Defour’s suspension wasn’t going to impact proceedings on Tuesday anyway, since Belgium’s starting midfield picks itself—and Kevin de Bruyne motoring down the middle of the park, this is a plan that, on paper, could finally unleash the multitude of goals that Belgium promised before the World Cup started.

USA Enter the Round of 16 on a High

In a round of 16 featuring runners-up participants like Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Switzerland, Belgium may feel that it has enjoyed better luck, pairing with the United States. Yet judging from the Americans’ performances over the course of three games in Group G, they will provide a stern threat on Tuesday.

With a thrilling win over Ghana and only the last minute of stoppage time preventing a remarkable comeback against Portugal, the USA will be riding high in confidence after securing qualification from the group stages, where they have gained many a neutral supporter with their energetic and passionate performances.

And while Jozy Altidore may still not be fit for the Belgium tie, Jurgen Klinsmann has conversely strengthened his midfield by playing captain and all-rounder Clint Dempsey up front, packing in pace and power behind him to allow his full-backs to support the American attack.

This allows for an intriguing battle in the middle of park at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on Tuesday, with the impressive Kyle Beckerman and the powerful Jermaine Jones taking on the physical Fellaini-Witsel Belgian midfield axis.

Plus, Belgium aren’t exactly the most convincing team out of all group winners taking part in the round of 16: Only Costa Rica are the true surprise package—all others have been hugely impressive, unlike Wilmots’ side. The USA’s team ethic and spirit will ask huge questions of Belgium.

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