Belgium
The FIFA World Cup kicks off for the first time in history in autumn. This Belgian squad has one last chance to win Fifa World Cup medals. The head coach of the Red Devils, Spaniard Roberto Martinez, has been in charge of the team since 2016; at the last World Cup in Russia, he managed to achieve the highest result in the history of the country with the Belgian team - bronze medals. Martinez himself at the club level was known for Everton, but did not achieve success there, accepting a team with de Bruyne and Azars. The Spaniard-led team has always been criticized, but the bronze at the last World Cup gave Martinez a new chance at work.
The current generation of the Belgian national football team is considered to be almost “golden”, but in major tournaments they have always failed at something. At the World Cup 2022 matches, Martinez’s team will have passing until the third round. Mertens, the older Hazard and Alderweireld from “that” generation will have a chance to reach the playoffs and excel at their last World Cup.
Belgium squad for 2022 World Cup: bid and leaders
Our editors will try to make a forecast for the Belgian application, based on recent months in European and world football.
| Goalkeepers | Thibaut Courtois, Coen Castells, Simon Mignolet |
|---|---|
| Protection | Jason Denayer, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Dedrik Boyata, Arthur Teat, Timothy Castagne, Thomas Meunier, |
| Midfield | Amadou Onana, Leander Dendonker, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Kevin de Bruyne, Charles de Ketelaare, Hans Vanaken |
| Assault | Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, Dries Mertens, Thorgan Hazard, Eden Hazard, Alexis Salemaakers, Dodi Lukebakio, Louis Openda, Divock Origi |
Вратари
В воротах «красных дьяволов» место надолго застолбил один из лучших голкиперов мира Тибо Куртуа. Его место в основе не вызывает вопросов, слишком слабые у него соперники. Ветеран Миньоле и малоизвестный Кастельс без европейского опыта сборных не могут навязать конкуренцию Куртуа.
Защита
В защитной линии сборной Бельгии конкуренция высокая, но первые матчи, скорее всего, сыграют опытные ветераны: Альдервейрельд из «Антверпена» и Вертонген из «Андерлехта». Третьим в пару ЦЗ может встать Боята из «Брюгге» и свободный агент Денайер, удивительным образом оставшийся без клуба. Ветераны вернулись в родную лигу и дадут необходимый опыт на ЧМ 2022 в Катаре. Мартинес играет без ярковыраженных крайних защитников, их роль часто играют вингеры. Но на мундиаль точно поедут не менее опытные Менье из «Боруссии» и Кастань из «Лестера».
Полузащита
В центре поля представлены самые перспективные бельгийцы. О де Брюйне говорить не надо, без него статистика сборной Бельгии ухудшается в разы. Помогать ему будут Дендонкер («Вулверхэмптон»), Тилеманс («Лестер») и Онана («Эвертон») из АПЛ. Опытный Витсель давно в обойме Мартинеса и готов помочь на любой позиции в центре. Молодой де Кетелааре из «Милана» может подменить де Брюйне в атакe.
Assault
Belgium’s offensive line at the FIFA World Cup is represented by players who have not lived up to high expectations in club football. This concerns the legend of the national team Eden Hazard, who is treated more than he plays. Lukaku, after returning to Inter, cannot find his game, the younger Hazard has not shown a level at Borussia for a long time. Carrasco is a rotation player at Atlético and Origi has been unable to impose competition at Liverpool.
Belgian national team: the history of performances at the World Cup
The best result of the Martinez team is the bronze medals of the 2018 World Championship in Russia. The Red Devils won no more medals. Recall that in the match for third place, the team, thanks to the goals of Eden Hazard and Meunier, beat the English with a score of 2:0.
How did Belgium qualify for the World Cup?
Martinez’s team confidently won in group E, without losing a single game in 8 matches. They are ahead of Wales, the Czech Republic and Estonia. It is impossible to call the European qualifying tournament for the Belgian national football team difficult. Too weak composition in the group, despite the fact that Wales entered the World Cup from the play-offs.
Belgium: World Cup 2022 group, opponents and predictions
The Belgians at the world championship went to group F with Canada, Morocco and Croatia. Obviously, the fight for the playoffs will be between European teams. Belgium looks preferable to young Canada and little-known Morocco. Our world cup prediction for the Belgian team is at least reaching the ⅛ finals. The team of Martinez and de Bruyne has little chance of further passage - the line-up of opponents at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is too strong.
FAQ
Roberto Martinez has been using the 3-5-2 formation for a long time. Our editorial forecast for the first matches at the 2022 World Cup: Courtois-Trossard-Alderweireld-Vertonghen-Boyata-Castany-Thielemans-Witsels-de Bruyne-E. Hazard-Lukaku-Salemakeyers. Origi, Wanaken and Carrasco could come on as replacements.
Romelu Lukaku is the sole top scorer in Red Devil history. On account of his 68 goals, the second on the list is Eden Hazard with 33 goals. Next come De Bruyne (24 goals) and Witsel (12 goals). No one has scored more than Lukaku at the World Championships either.
The Belgian national football team, according to bookmakers, is not included in the top 7 best FIFA World Cup teams. To win the Fifa Worlfd Cup, they now offer from 17 to 20. To qualify from group F, the odds are only 1.1 for a win of 1.5. Access to the semifinals is estimated at 3.4-4.
