Belgium Watch

Been following them since 2007 really think this will finally be their year.


Belgium Squad -

Thibaut Courtois (A.Madrid)
Simon Mignolet (Sunderland)
Jean-François Gillet (Torino).
Alderweireld (Ajax)
Kompany (M. City)
Lombaerts (Zenit)
Van Buyten (Bayern)
Vertonghen (Spurs)
Vermaelen (Arsenal)
G. Gillet (Anderlecht)
Ciman (Standard)
Pocognoli (Standard)
E. Hazard (Chelsea)
Mertens (PSV)
Simons (Nuremberg).
Fellaini (Everton)
Defour (Porto)
Witsel (Benfica)
Dembele (Tottenham)
Blondel (Club Brugge)
De Bruyne (W. Brêmen)
R. Lukaku (WBA)
De Camargo (B.Monchengladbach)
Benteke (Genk)
De Ceulaer (Lokeren)
Mirallas (Everton)

Expected team


There's still some doubt over who's the first choice GK (should be a no-brainer really), DeeYem & striker though. We shall see I guess.

Really need Hazard to be decisive in these two games against Wales & Croatia. He's the best player in the team and key to Belgium qualifying from this group.

Don't rate the coach but he got a great result in their last game against the Netherlands. (4-2)

So many names,so little expectation.Such a shame these guys probably arent even going to qualify for the WC

Wales will play Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday, 7th September 2012 at 7.45 PM

Wales Squad:

Jason Brown (Aberdeen)
Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion)
Lewis Price (Crystal Palace)

Darcy Blake (Crystal Palace)
James Collins (West Ham United)
Chris Gunter (Reading)
Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town)
Adam Matthews (Celtic)
Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers)
Neil Taylor (Swansea City)
Ashley Williams (Swansea City)

Joe Allen (Liverpool)
Andrew Crofts (Brighton & Hove Albion)
David Edwards ( Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Andy King (Leicester City)
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal )
Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace)

Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City)
Simon Church (Reading)
Steve Morison (Norwich City)
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
Sam Vokes (Burnley)


Some quality players in that team should be a tough game.

Ganso wrote:So many names,so little expectation.Such a shame these guys probably arent even going to qualify for the WC

Why not?

There's no heavyweight in their group this year.

Wales, Serbia, Croatia , Belgium, Macedonia & Scotland

That's an evenly matched group with no clear favourites. I'd say Belgium would fancy their chances.

Don't be a hater.

Well, Serbia and Croatia are no pushovers, though. I would like to see Belgium qualify, but somehow I doubt it will be too easy. Although I'd sure love to see Courtois in the World Cup!

rwo power wrote:Well, Serbia and Croatia are no pushovers, though. I would like to see Belgium qualify, but somehow I doubt it will be too easy. Although I'd sure love to see Courtois in the World Cup!

Serbia aren't as strong as they were 2 years back. I agree with you on Croatia they're my favourites.

Knowing how their stars (mainly hazard) flop at the international stage,they will struggle against these teams.There is no top NT but getting results on this group will be tough,Servia,Croatia,Wales are far from being a walk on the park.My guess is that Croatia will qualify

Well, Belgium needs to make sure they don't drop points against "weaker" opponents as they did in the Euro2012 qualification. After all, in the end it were possibly the draws against Austria and Azerbaijan that kicked Belgium out of the play-off chance. So this time they need to keep concentrated from the very first match.

Vertonghen is shit at LB. They need someone better there. And no it can't be vermaelen as he is miles better at CB

Their problems are the full-backs. Midfield looks promising, with Fellaini, Witsel and Defour. The wingers are very talented, but E. Hazard has to perform. Lukaku will be a beast. In 2018 they may be a force, with Thorgan Hazard alongside Eden.

RealGunner wrote:Vertonghen is shit at LB. They need someone better there. And no it can't be vermaelen as he is miles better at CB

He had a solid game in that position against Holland.

If Ivanovic can have a solid career at fullback, then I see no reason why Vertonghen can't see succeed there.

It's the RB position I'm more concerned with. Gillet's a scrub.

Ganso wrote:Knowing how their stars (mainly hazard) flop at the international stage,they will struggle against these teams.There is no top NT but getting results on this group will be tough,Servia,Croatia,Wales are far from being a walk on the park.My guess is that Croatia will qualify

Hazard isn't a NT flop. Maybe in terms goals he is but he's consistently created the most chances out of all the other Belgians & in terms of assists he tops that chart by a fair bit of margin.

As I said previously he needs to me more decisive for his country in terms of goals. There's no elite goalscorer in that Belgian side so that's one area he deffo needs to improve in.

It's a bit of like Cristiano with Portugal. They're f**cked if he doesn't score & to a lesser extent Missi in an Argentine shirt.


I disagree with Serbia & Wales being tough btw. Wales have been shite since Speed's death & Serbia have lost their best players in Vidic & Stankovic while Krasic got exposed at Juve.

This is easily their best chance yet especially with the talent they've got in the Elite Leagues now. Look at dat defense & midfield ffs.

I know it's only Scotland but Impressed with Benteke ,Mertens,Chadli.

You were impressed by Benteke? REALLY? BENTEKE!!?!?!

De Bruyne and Kompany were the stand out players over the week for me.

Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Witsel, Dembele, Mertens, De Bruyne, Hazard, Benteke

This team is so sick. So many talent everywhere, even the strikers look decent nowadays.

Gil wrote:Courtois (Good), Alderweireld (Crap), Kompany (Good), Vermaelen (Crap), Vertonghen (Crap at LB), Witsel (Good), Dembele (Good), Mertens (Overrated), De Bruyne (Good), Hazard (Good), Benteke (Meh)

Nothing special

Most overrated NT in the world.Not participated in 4 straight international competitions and some people have them as dark horses for next year's world cup

belgium will win the world cup!


---------------------courtois
alderweireld---kompany---vermaelen---vertonghen
------------witsel-------fellaini/dembele
------------------de bruyne
mertens/mirallas-----lukaku/benteke--------hazard

belgium will win the world cup!

People keep saying Belgium is destined to greatness since Mpenza brothers. Truth is they are meh and will continue to be meh.

Vertonghen isn't crap at LB. He's fairly solid. He's a lot better at CB but those saying he's bad at LB are wrong. In fact he did probably as good a job at LB in BAE's absence as BAE is doing now. Actually probably better but BAE isn't that great. Not awful though or crap.

They've got a good team. Dembele and Vertonghen are carrying them atm.

Belgium will most probably be meh, but at the same time they are an exciting prospect and really young. They have a good holding midfield, a good goalkeeper, their defense needs a little more work, and they have hazard (who needs to step up and take the teams pressures and score- and I am sure he will, this is his first season in the premier league too and he is getting better)

GKs - Courtois, Mignolet, Gillet, Casteels

DEF - Alderweireld, Ciman, Gillet, Kompany, Lombaerts, Pocognoli, Vermaelen, Van Buyten, Vertonghen

MID - Chadli, Defour, Dembele, Fellaini, T.Hazard, Simons, Witsel

ATT- Benteke, De Bruyne, E.Hazard, Lestienne, Lukaku, Mertens, Mirallas, Vossen

5 Chelsea players lol. Thorgan Hazard's first call up although he should be in the Belgian U-21 squad really.

free_cat wrote:People keep saying Belgium is destined to greatness since Mpenza brothers. Truth is they are meh and will continue to be meh.

They are blessed with a good selection of players at present, whilst they might not win any international titles, on their day they'd be a challenge.

Ninja isn't there yet , can he still get into NT?

He should.