Belgium (National Football)

Belgium haven’t made the light work of Group H that many had envisioned before the tournament began, with two less-than-convincing victories against Algeria and Russia, respectively.

That being said, two wins out of two has put them into the knockout stage, but their form must improve if they’re to make an impact in the winter of the tournament.

The timing couldn’t be better, then, for Belgium to take on South Korea in Sao Paulo, where they can look to build confidence ahead of the round of 16.

Venue: Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

Date: Thursday, June 26

Time: 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET

TV Info: ITV1/ESPN (U.S.)

Live Stream: ITV Player/ESPN Player

Marc Wilmots Happy to Win Ugly

Any pundit can tell you that Belgium have been a letdown so far, but what’s disappointing about winning football matches?

Take England for example—they played better against Italy than they have in any match in over a decade, but what happened? Italy won 2-1.

Watching any domestic football season unfold will tell you that playing ugly and winning is the sign of champions, but the beautiful side always comes out.

Manager Wilmots will be hoping that the beauty arrives against Russia to secure their place in the round of 16, but for now, he’s happy to just play effectively—per FIFA.com:

“It's not about being beautiful—but about being effective. Belgium are through to the next round and that is what counts. We are tactically very disciplined and we needed to be patient."

Patient they were, with both of their game-winning goals coming later than the 80-minute mark, making skipper Vincent Kompany praise the courage of his young side via Twitter:

Kompany and Co. now have to put the icing on top of their Group H cake against the South Koreans, who were outplayed by Algeria on Sunday.

The African nation’s 4-2 victory was almost flattering on South Korea, having failed to make any sort of impact for the majority of the match—per OptaJoe:

However, Hong Myung-bo’s side are still in with a chance of qualifying if they manage to put a few goals past Belgium—so, yes, it’s a very slim chance.

Though they harbour some renowned talent in their ranks—the likes of Ki Sung-yueng and Park Chu-young—the way that Hong has them set up so far rather flattens their whole operation.

They’ll be hoping that a miracle happens in Sao Paulo, but unless the South Korean tactics change, then it’s incredibly unlikely, particularly against the force of Belgium.

Korea’s one saving grace is that the Belgians may be looking to rest some of their key players to keep them fresh for the knockout stage.

However, anyone who’s watched Belgium in the last two years can tell you that they have more than enough quality in their ranks to be able to afford to rest their big players and to romp to victory on Thursday with any line-up.

In spite of their narrow victories so far, Belgium have eased into the tournament as time has gone on. Finding a way to peak at the right time at a World Cup is invaluable, but the young Belgians may well crack it.

Though Wilmots’ men will face a tough test in the round of 16 against any one of Group G’s heavyweights, if their best form finally arrives in Brazil, then they could make light work of any opposition.

Prediction: South Korea 0-2 Belgium

Belgian star striker Romelu Lukaku hasn't quite enjoyed the World Cup breakthrough (yet) that many expected him to have for a talent-laden Belgium side. 

Someone forgot to tell that to the Queen of Belgium. 

In the aftermath of Belgium's late 1-0 win over Russia, Queen Mathilde congratulated Lukaku for scoring the game-winner. 

Per Who Ate All the Pies, she told Lukaku, "Bravo! Thanks to your goal we won, right?"

Problem being, of course, is that Lukaku didn't score the winner. He was on the bench when Divock Origi scored. 

1-0 Belgium https://t.co/BnM0O73FTr

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 22, 2014

In fact, Lukaku was rather unhappy about being taken off the pitch. 

If Lukaku does this with Mourinho then he will play with U21 forever http://t.co/VeV8WaTHWK

— Football Vines (@FootballVines) June 23, 2014

But he took it all in good stride—three points and the Queen's presence will do that—and pointed her in Origi's direction. 

Watch the video here. 

[Who Ate All the Pies]

What’s bad news for most can be good news for some. As harsh as it may sound, this was the case when Christian Benteke was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a serious injury in April. Belgium lost their best striker, but Romelu Lukaku, who was immediately hailed as Benteke’s replacement, gained an opportunity to show the world what he was worth.

For Lukaku, the unexpected turn of events had the potential of being career changing. The striker was facing a crossroad at the time: Having failed to convince his manager Jose Mourinho despite playing well for Everton on loan, he was, to all intents and purposes, on the lookout for a new club. 

At the World Cup, he would be the focal point of a gifted strike force. Playing behind him, he’d have players like Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne. Surely, he’d be able to score a goal or two, and surely, he would see his stock rise, right to the point where he’d be one of the most desired players on the market by August? 

At the World Cup, Lukaku was supposed to show that the musings that have accompanied him since his time at Anderlecht are not based on this air. At the World Cup, Lukaku was supposed to prove, once and for all, that he’s as gifted and extraordinarily talented as he’s sometimes made out to be.

All of that, and maybe even more, must have been running, like a rabid dog, through the mind of Lukaku. And for exactly that reason, the 21-year-old’s tournament has so far been underwhelming. 

During Belgium’s first match against Algeria, Lukaku failed to play the prominent attacking role he’s expected to play—even when his team were 1-0 down. In the second half, he was replaced by youngster Divock Origi. Against Russia, when the Rode Duivels looked uninspiring during the first half, Lukaku was once again replaced. This time, Origi scored the winning goal. 

The plan was to once and for all graduate from journeyman status. But as things stand, Jose Mourinho has been vindicated in his decision to refrain from recalling Lukaku from his Everton loan spell and look for a new striker instead. 

If this were a trial and Lukaku was asked to defend himself in front of a jury of intensely scrutinous football critics, the striker could, of course, state that the crushing pressure of expectations on his shoulders would be too much to bear for anyone. 

Lukaku would, of course, be right. But who, exactly, is putting this pressure on the 21-year-old’s shoulders? Is it his jurors, looking at him from their pedestals, their eyes constantly following every step he takes? Is is the media, the fans, the pundits, the columnists, all those people who have something to say about the striker, day in, day out?

Or is Lukaku, in fact, burdening himself with the intolerably heavy weight of expectation?

Sure, the narrative that has been spun around the Belgian former wonderkid has not made it easier for Lukaku to perform. But simultaneously, it’s part of a footballer’s task to block out these external influences. Attributes like focus, drive, concentration, composure and ability to handle pressure are all supposed to be part of an athlete’s mental arsenal. 

It’s easier said than done, of course. But that’s why only the best players get to shine during World Cups. And that’s why it’s difficult, even after successful loan spells, to earn your place at a title-challenging team like Chelsea.

In its hunger for achievements, the world of football is a cruel one, and while it’s difficult to dislike the seemingly sympathetic Lukaku, it’s equally difficult to deny the striker has just about used up his credit. In Belgium’s final group match against South Korea, Lukaku must finally perform. Should Origi once again replace him and score, he might just lose his place in Belgium’s first XI. 

What could have been a fairytale would then end in disappointment.

With 20 minutes remaining in the Maracana on Sunday, the crowd of just under 74,000 produced a chorus of boos as Belgium failed to sparkle against Russia in Rio de Janeiro.

And just as it had in their Group H opener against Algeria, it took a couple of inspired substitutions from boss Marc Wilmots to swing the tie in the Red Devils’ favour.

With a quarter-of-an-hour to go, Kevin Mirallas entered the fray and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when his driven free-kick hit the base of the post late on.

But it was the switch made in the 57th minute that had the greatest impact, with eventual match-winner Divock Origi taking the place of the anonymous Romelu Lukaku.

Origi’s influence and movement was a far cry from what had gone before him, and a lethal finish with just seconds remaining after good work from Eden Hazard proved decisive.

Lukaku’s lack of involvement was clearly a concern for Wilmots, who wasted little time in reorganising his side after the restart. As a result, and for the second game in a row, big questions are being asked of the Chelsea striker.

Still only 21 years old, it’s worth remembering that the forward, who spent a fruitful season on-loan at Everton last term, might not have started in Brazil were it not for Christian Benteke’s injury.

But his performances indicate the competition may be a step too far for the former Anderlecht man at this stage of his career, as he cut an isolated figure in attack.

Against Russia, in a first half devoid of chances, Belgium made inroads through the impressive Dries Mertens—a direct and far more influential replacement for Nacer Chadli.

Kevin De Bruyne also made some penetrating runs from the middle of the park, but all too often Lukaku’s disinterested, almost static approach rendered their efforts pointless.

In his defence, many of Belgium’s big-hitters failed to turn up against Fabio Capello’s men, and it wasn’t until the closing stages that Hazard and Co found their rhythm.

But with his team already through to the knockout stages, it’s difficult to see how Wilmots can justify starting the No. 9 in their final group game against South Korea on Thursday.

He is a manager who knows a thing or two about scoring and is Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup. But his experience will surely tell him that this is a tournament too soon for Lukaku.