For many years football fans around the world have struggled to name a footballer from the Western European nation as they struggled to make an impact on the world. The most famous Belgian Footballer up to 5- 10 years ago may have been Jean-Marc Bosman.
For many years football fans around the world have struggled to name a footballer from the Western European nation as they struggled to make an impact on the world. The most famous Belgian Footballer up to 5- 10 years ago may have been Jean-Marc Bosman.
Bosman came to prominence due to the ruling in 1995 which gave professional footballers free movement of labour and from that day, has had a profound effect on how transfers are conducted in the European Union.
However 18 years later, Belgium now has a host of stars plying their trade in the best leagues in the world for some of the best teams. They have players known worldwide and some of them are amongst the best in their respective positions. After failing participate in the World Cup since 2002, this crop of young stars are starting to delivered and are looking to make their mark on the world of football.
Belgium came through qualification pretty smoothly finishing nine points above a much fancied Croatian team. This is a big statement of intent by the Belgians against a team that featured in Euro 2012 among the best on the continent. The Croatian team has many experienced stars at club and international level but were no match for the young guns of Belgium. Dario Srna, Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, Eduardo, Ivica Olic and Nico Kranjcar are some of the establish stars of world football that the Belgians had to overcome.
Belgium however boasts stars of their own and they have so many gifted players who cannot even get into the team. The likes of Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen and Axel Witsel are all world class players. They however boast top class talents who are very young which makes the future seem very bright for the Western European nation.
Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens, Christian Benteke, Marouanne Fellaini, Moussa Dembele, Toby Alderweireld, Romelu Lukaku, Steven Defour, Nacer Chadli and Kevin Mirallas are all top class talents who did excellently in qualifications and are impressing at club level. These are players all tipped to become world class stars and there is no doubting their ability. Belgium also has young Zakaria Bakkali in their ranks who is making a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven. They may also add emerging Manchester United star Adan Januzaj to their ranks which would give them more fire power.
The quality of this team is very frightening and the players know they must make the most of their chances because there are players waiting in the wings who are more than capable of doing a better job. Young players always want minutes on the pitch and this is a young team with hungry players with a big appetite for success. The likes of Kompany, Witsel and Courtois may be the first names on Marc Wilmots’ team sheet but still they know they must perform or they could lose their place in the squad.
They are very solid in every department as they try not to give anything away. They conceded just four goals in 10 games while scoring eighteen. These statistics shows the great balance they have in their squad which is what most coach dream of. Having quality is one thing but the depth of this team is amazing. Wilmots is spoilt for choices with this ‘golden generation’ but still he always seems to make the right selections and the best combinations. He is keeping his bunch of youngsters happy and so he has total command of the dressing room which is vital, especially when dealing with young millionaires.
In the past there have been clashes of egos particularly among Witsel and Hazard. The Chelsea winger believes he is the star of the team but Witsel is the man who pulls the strings and so he is the player who the rest of the squad responds to. That all seem to be history now as Wilmots and his coaching staff have managed to reach the World Cup and will be looking to do some serious damage against the world’s best next year in Brazil.
Writer: Yashiema Love
Photo: Edin Hazard (Getty Images)
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