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With the football fraternity fastening its seat belt to experience the biggest sporting event in the world of football, it is of no doubt that the FIFA World Cup 2018 is what every football fan is eagerly waiting for. The best in the world will battle it out against each other to carve their names and immortalize themselves in history books.
One simply cannot expect the FIFA World Cup to be bereft of spectacular goals, mouthwatering contests, nail-biting finishes, drama, heartbreaks and glory. My personal belief is that the giants of this forthcoming event include 5-time champions Brazil, 4-time winners Germany, Argentina, Spain and France.
However, another nation with a population of just over 11 million is witnessing a remarkable golden generation presently. They are ready to defeat teams with grit and flair, accept the toughest of challenges and fight with the very best to challenge for this prestigious prize.
This country is none other than Belgium. With a plethora of spirited talent, an able leader in Roberto Martinez and an array of match winners, the Red Devils look more than just ready.
They are seeded in Group G, alongside England, Tunisia and newcomers Panama. Do not be surprised if they top their group with a statement, as they are not the underdogs or dark horses anymore.
On their day, the Eden Hazard-led side can thrash any side, and over the last 24-30 months, they have established themselves as serious challengers for the big competitions.
Here, we will try and analyse what Belgium has in store for us in this edition of the FIFA World Cup:
Strengths:
The Belgians have a number of plus points heading into the World Cup.
Firstly, they have a young squad. However, this young squad isn't inexperienced. Almost all their players have made their international debuts a few years back. In fact, 12 players who are in the current squad featured in the previous World Cup and the Euros in 2016. This only means that they have a pre-existing core in the side.
Next, they have pace and precision in their armoury. A lot of their players are quick, agile and have exceptional technical abilities. This team is no short of talent. From Yannick Carrasco at left wing-back to Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard, the Red Devils can strike fear into any opposing defence with their blistering speed.
A lot of their players have the winning mentality. A list of players including Thibaut Courtois, Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Yannick Carrasco and Kevin De Bruyne have tasted success at the club levels, and have even been pivotal for their respective clubs over the years, without a doubt.
Weaknesses:
Their main weakness is Romelu Lukaku's form. He didn't end the season as well as he would have liked. The Manchester United ace has a knack of disappearing in the big games, which could cost them in the knock-out stages of the tournament.
While he is a powerful figure who can hold up play and finish off chances, he remains too static at times. Often, the 25-year-old is too slow to react.
Next, their defence is not the quickest. Although Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen are ranked as some of the best defenders in the world, but they aren't fast as such. If an opposition forward, plays a high line and runs off their backs, it could be hard chasing him.
Thirdly, does Carrasco play in the best position? The left wing back role disallows him to get into goal scoring positions. His defensive abilities are questionable too, as the willingness to play up the pitch can leave a large space on the left-hand side.
If Martinez can play a flat back four with Carrasco as a part of a three-man midfield, it would suit him more. He would have more opportunities of running at the opponent's back line and most importantly, the 4-3-3 setup would allow him to play down his favoured right-hand side.
Who to watch out for?
As mentioned before, this side has one of the most talented players in the tournament.
But the players that could take the World Cup by storm specifically, are Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne.
Courtois is arguably one of the best goalkeepers on this planet. Standing tall at 6′ 6″, he is capable of making the most incredible saves. He can make stops from the top draw, take charge and construct a good defence, claim the ball confidently and distribute it well too.
Kevin De Bruyne is another player to watch out for. Having orchestrated a flawless season for Manchester City, he will be high on the confidence coming into the World Cup.
The midfielder has excellent technique, vision and passing ability. He can sweep passes all around the pitch effortlessly. De Bruyne is fairly two-footed and can strike them from distance. To add to that, he offers an immense work rate.
This list would definitely be incomplete without Eden Hazard. There's nothing he cannot do on the football pitch. Hazard will run at defenders, complete take-ons, wriggle past defences and offer innovation to the attack. His finishing too is unimpeachable.
Who will make their best XI?
Expected formation - 3-4-2-1
Thibaut Courtois will certainly form the last line of defence.
The defence will be led by Vincent Kompany, who is more than just a leader. If he stays fit throughout, it would be a huge bonus for the side. On either side of him, will be Tottenham Hotspur's prolific duo of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.
Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Meunier will play as wing backs.
The excellence and creativity of Kevin De Bruyne will be seen in central midfield. He is a complete player, someone who works hard, creates chances, takes set-pieces and has an eye for goal. He will be accompanied by the reliable Axel Witsel, who will add a defensive cover, block passing lanes and keep the forward play going.
A magician in Eden Hazard will occupy the left wing. Dries Mertens will occupy the opposite flank. His pace coupled with a near-perfect finishing touch is just what helps the striker.
Romelu Lukaku will spearhead the attack. He is expected to hold up play, capitalize on chances in the box and buy time for the midfielders and enable them to get into dangerous positions.
How far can they go?
Getting past the group stage should not be a worry for them, as it is expected to be a two-horse race between themselves and England. The duopoly isn't expected to be broken by Tunisia or Panama.
A potential fixture in the quarterfinals could be Brazil v Belgium and if that occurs, Martinez will know he has a mammoth task on his hands.
While they have to potential to go all the way, Eden Hazard and co. need to add consistency along with a proper tactical game plan to go forward in the big games. If that works out well for them, then we could expect the biggest success in their history to unfold before us.
However, losses against Argentina and Wales in the World Cup and Euros respectively, imply that they don't play to their full potential. It also indicates that they struggle to hold their nerves when it matters most.
It will be extremely interesting to see if they can manage to overcome these shortcomings.
