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Marc Wilmots (up), head coach of Belgium celebrates the win and qualification for World Cup after the match vs. Croatia on October 11, 2013 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Getty Images)
Europe (UEFA) - Belgium
Marc Wilmots’ team has taken the footballing world by storm.
The average age of Belgium’s golden generation is just 25 and their young squad boasts great camaraderie.
Ranked 54th in the world two years ago, they now lie in sixth place, having qualified for Brazil – for the first time since 2002 – with a game to spare. They are also unbeaten with eight wins and a draw.
Belgium’s squad is so gifted that their second eleven could make the knock-out stages. They have two promising players for almost every position on the field: Simon Mignolet and Thibaut Courtois in goal and the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany and Daniel Van Buyten amongst others vying for a centre-back slot.
Further up their midfield is packed with the likes of Axel Wistel, Marouane Fellaini and Eden Hazard and up front they have Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku with the versatility of Kevin Mirallas and Moussa Dembele adding an extra dimension to their attack.
Safe to say nobody will be taking the Red Devils lightly, who finished fourth in 1986.
