World Cup 2018: 4 Reasons why Belguim can win the World Cup

The Red Devils are one of the teams to watch out for and they are also one of the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup in 2018. In their 3-2 win over Japan, they showed that despite errors they have the character and resilience of a potential champion.

They topped their group with comfortable wins over Panama, Tunisia, and England and now their golden generation faces the biggest challenge so far in form of Brazil.

The Belgians have world class players in all areas of the pitch and in Eden Hazard, they have a talismanic player as well, who knows how to handle the attention of defenders and allow other players like De Bryune and Mertens to move into the spaces.

Their new formation of 3-4-2-1 has been very effective and their use of drone positioning is relatively a new footballing tactic, but it has proven to be effective and with their 3-2 comeback win over Japan they have good momentum which they will look to carry on against Brazil.

Thus, here are 4 reasons why Belguim can win the World Cup:

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#4 Experience

Belguim players have a lot of experience of playing together as a team

Before the tournament started, there was much talk about how so many national teams have so much depth and quality in their teams. However, Belgium was the one team that truly deserved the tag of the 'golden generation'.

The current crop of Belguim National Team has been given the name of the 'golden generation' due to the incredible talent they have at their disposal.

Here we are not talking about the average experience of each player, but the experience of playing together as a unit. If we compare this squad with Belguim's 2014 World Cup squad there are 15 players who were in Brazil and now they are together in Russia.

Also if this squad is compared with the Euro 2016 squad there are again 15 players who were present in both the tournaments. Even if we compare this squad with Belguim's Euro 2012 squad which participated in the qualifiers there are still 13 players who were present for Belguim at that and now as well.

By constantly playing together this squad knows each other's game and this has given them a lot of experience of playing together as a unit, which should help in this FIFA World Cup 2018.

#3 Peak

Almost every regular in the Belguim squad is at their peak

It seems like the team is right for this current crop of Belguim National team to really keep the foot on the gas and accelerate towards the World Cup trophy and finally win something with this golden generation.

Their top players like Hazard and De Bruyne are starting to peak right now at the age of 27 and their midfield which consists of Dembele, Fellaini, Witsel, Mertens, all are close to their early 30's and they are at their peak as well.

While their defence of Kompany, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, and Vertonghen are also in their early 30's and are currently at their peak form.

If we compare this with other teams left in the tournament we will hardly find any top team with so many players at the peak of their potential. And this is a golden chance which will not come to Belguim at every tournament and they should make the most of it.

#2 Game changers

Belguim have many game changers

In the game against Japan, Belguim manager Roberto Martinez was for sure upset with his defence, but he can be happy about the fact that his team showed great character and his substitutions worked perfectly.

In the current Belguim roster they have many players who can come off the bench and win the game for the Red Devils, while some players like Hazard and De Bruyne who are guaranteed starters are also capable of changing the game for their team.

If things are not working out, Belguim they can always use the aerial ability of Marouane Fellaini. While Moussa Dembele has so far slipped under the radar and his unique skill set of immense physicality and amazing dribbling skills also make him a game changer as well.

And in Michy Batshuyi they have a proper bench specialist who has won Chelsea crucial games by coming off the bench.

#1 Midfield Domination

Belguim midfield is capable of dominating the midfield physically as well as creatively

One of the common features of all great teams that have achieved success in world football is their ability to dominate the midfield and provide an extra man in attack as well as in defence.

The 2010 World Cup winning squad of Spain had a great midfield in Xavi, Iniesta and Alonso. While Germany also had a great midfield in 2014 with Kross, Swichetiger, and Mueller.

Currently, Belguim employ a 3-4-2-1 formation in which De Bruyne and Witsel form a midfield partnership. De Bruyne plays a little deeper and collects the ball from the defence and runs at the opposition while Witsel plays a bit higher and remains in his position even when De Brunye roams forward to prevent counter attacks.

Both De Bruyne and Witsel are very capable midfielders individually and their experience of playing together will surely help them in difficult situations. Also with the presence of Dembele and Fellaini, they can dominate the midfield physically as well.