The Red Devils enter the 2018 World Cup with tons of talent and so far, nothing to show for it. Will Belgium finally live up to the world class talent on their roster and win the 2018 FIFA World Cup? Let’s take a look at three hopes and one fear for the Belgian National team as they start World Cup group play on the June 18th against Panama”
Hope 1 – The Four Horsemen of the Belgian Attacking Apocalypse
With the Romelu Lukaku at the head of the spear, Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard slicing up the wings and Kevin De Bruyne playing behind the three forwards, the Belgian attack has the ability to be devastating. Lukaku’s size and skill up top can eat up defenders and and attention allow for Hazard and Mertens to float into the box and attack. Kevin De Bruyne is arguably one of the most in form players in the world and with him playing as a sort of central attacking midfielder should be able to create scoring chances either for himself or any of their three forwards. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Belgium has the best collection of talent up front of any of the teams in this tournament. They also are incredibly deep as well. The Red Devils can bring in very talented experienced players like Nacer Chadli and Axel Witsel or uber-talented 24 year old forward, Michy Batshuayi. This group of attacking players will be a really tall task for opposing defenses to contain.
Hope 2 – Vincent Kompany’s fitness
Considered one of the best defenders in the world, Vincent Kompany’s groin injury, picked up in their June 2nd friendly against Portugal, will be a difficult challenge for an attack minded Belgium. Kompany’s intelligent and stout play are necessary for a team that will be looking to push the ball forward hard. While the Red Devils do have depth among their defenders (with the likes of FC Barcelona’s Thomas Vermaellen and PSG’s Thomas Meunier likely available off the bench), Kompany is the considered the true leader of the group. Additionally, Kompany also serves as a leader in a country that reflects the demographics of a divided country between the Dutch speaking Flemish region and the French speaking Wallonia region. Kompany is one of the few truly bilingual speakers on the team and is able to bridge the communication gap between players from either region.
Hope 3 – England vs. Belgium will be as good a match as it looks on paper
This is a more personal and selfish hope. On paper this looks to be a fantastic matchup between the talented Belgian team and the brash, young England squad with a good bit of talent and a little less of that traditional English National team baggage. England v. Belgium will be a fast, free flowing match with plenty of scoring chances throughout. My assumption is that both teams will have beaten Tunisia and Panama and this match will likely decide the winner of the group who will avoid a matchup against likely Group H winner, Colombia and pair up against one of the more pedestrian Group H squads (Senegal, Poland, Japan).
One Fear – Lack of Cohesion
While Belgium is filled to the brim with world class talent everywhere on the pitch, the team seems to be made up of 23 individuals who lack a cohesiveness that many of the other teams with similar talent seem to have. They should be able to beat teams that they have clearly more firepower than but when they matchup against teams like Argentina at the 2014 World Cup, they tend to wilt. It will be interesting to watch if the Belgians can get over this mental hump and accomplish what their talent level dictates they should accomplish.
Belgium
2018 World Cup
