G'day tribe. Here is Part 4 of the ultimate 2022 FIFA World Cup Review. Over 32 days I will be posting a review about every single team participating in the World Cup in Qatar. Below are the reviews already released. Yesterday was Morocco and today we finish off Group F with Belgium.
Group F - Canada | Croatia | Morocco |
Country: Belgium
Nickname: The Red Devils
Last World Cup Appearance: 2018 (Third place)
Previous World Cup Appearances: 13 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2014, 2018)
World Rank: #2
Star Players: Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois.
Belgium punches well above their weight considering the population is around 11.5 million and there's a lot of flavour in a country made up of old parts of France, Netherlands, Germany and migrants from Italy, Morocco and Congo.
With one of the deepest national player pools in the world, it's no doubt Belgium is one of the favourites to win the World Cup. There is pressure on Roberto Martinez and his men as it will be their last opportunity to maximise the current golden generation as many of the team's stars won't make it to the next World Cup.
Belgium qualified undefeated, a 1-1 draw with Greece the only blip during their qualification campaign. There's plenty of talent with Kevin De Bruyne one of the best midfielders in the world, Romelu Lukaku the most devastating striker when in form and Thibaut Courtois making a case for being the best keeper.
World Cup Group: Group F - Canada, Belgium, Morocco, Croatia
Prediction: Belgium spent over two years as FIFA's top-ranked team and in March were overtaken by Brazil to sit second in the rankings. In 2018 after dominating much of their semi-final against France, they were unlucky not to make it to the final where they would have likely beaten Croatia.
Much of their core is in their 30s and since the last World Cup, Marouane Fellaini and Vincent Kompany have already retired. Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois are all set to shine but it's the youth of Yari Verschaeren, Jeremy Doku, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Zinho Venheusden and Elias Cobbaut who all offer depth and energy in the heat of Qatar.
Where teams can exploit Belgium is at the ageing back with Jan Vertonghen who will be 35 years old at the World Cup and Toby Alderweireld 33 years old.
Overall however the current Belgium team offers the perfect combination of old headed experience and flamboyant youthfulness that has a legitimate opportunity of going all the way in Qatar. They should have no issues qualifying out of their group.
Croatia just doesn't have the attacking strength that they did in 2018 and Canada and Morocco don't have the experience or talent to challenge. Belgium will top their group and steam roll into the knockout rounds.
Belgium had a bad beginning to June with a 4-1 defeat to the Netherlands. They came back to hammer Poland 6-1 five days later. They also drew against Wales and beat Poland again 1-0.
This team will however will be motivated by the fact that there will never be a golden opportunity like this again for Belgium to win a World Cup, They've got enough depth to take them through the entire knockout rounds. The depth will be important especially in Qatar.
It's a big call, but they'll be finalists. Who will beat them in the finals? You'll have to keep reading the reviews as to who I think will take them on in the World Cup Final and beat them.
World Cup Finalists