Last shot at global glory for Belgium’s golden generation

The Belgium national team have hit new heights since Roberto Martinez took up the reins in August 2016 and harbour high hopes ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

The historic third-place showing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ has only served to further whet Belgian appetites and the Europeans have clear designs on lifting their maiden World Cup crown on Arab soil.

In their quest for glory, Belgium will look to the national-team aces who shine brightly week in, week out for their club sides, including the likes of Thibaut Courtois, who captured the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League crown with Real Madrid and was named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2018; Manchester City icon and four-time English Premier League champion, Kevin De Bruyne; adidas Silver Ball winner at the 2018 tournament in Russia, Eden Hazard; and Romelu Lukaku, who landed the adidas Bronze Boot last time round.

The Belgians made light work of qualification for Qatar 2022™, recording six wins and two draws, and despite failing to make the UEFA Nations League Final Four in September, Martinez’s men still remain a formidable force.

23 November Belgium-Canada (22:00 local time, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium Al Rayyan)

27 November Belgium-Morocco o16:00 local time, Al Thumama Stadium)

1 December Croatia-Belgiumu (18:00 local time, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium Al Rayyan)

A keen advocate of the 3-4-3 system when he occupied the hotseat at Wigan Athletic, where he already enjoyed legendary status after an impressive stint as a player, the 2013 FA Cup-winning coach has retained faith in this set-up in the Belgium dugout, where he lines up with two attacking midfielders and offers his marauding full-backs licence to push on. One feature of the Belgians’ tactical approach is to allow the opposition to come on to them before applying the press.

The Spain-born tactician only once abandoned his trusted formation: in the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final showdown against Brazil. This bold move was richly rewarded as Belgium secured their best-ever finish at the FIFA World Cup.

The current members of the Red Devils’ squad have been massively impressed by Martinez’s tactical nous and the strong relationship he enjoys with his dressing room. “He has two strengths: he is equally impressive on the training pitch as he is off it,” centre-back Jan Vertonghen told FIFA. “He really excels in terms of organisation when it comes to the national team and Belgian football in general. He’s also capable of putting together a strong group with a good blend of personalities and talented players. He knows how to get all of his players singing from the same hymn sheet, which is never an easy task.”

“He’s constantly talking to us and is incredibly close to his players,” commented captain Eden Hazard. “That’s the biggest quality a coach needs, particularly in international football, where he doesn’t get to work with us that often. What’s more, he’s very good tactically and isn’t afraid to make big decisions. He’s a great coach.”

Belgium boast a raft of standout performers who will be out to land the adidas Golden Ball when the action gets under way in Qatar, including the aforementioned Hazard, Lukaku and Courtois, all of whom ply their trade for some of Europe’s top clubs.

But one national-team star has been head and shoulders above the rest in recent years after delivering stellar performances on a consistent basis: Kevin De Bruyne. It is no coincidence that everyone who is lucky enough to work closely with the talented schemer always says that the midfield maestro quite simply hails from another planet.

“He’s the most talented playmaker in international football right now,” declared Martinez during the international break in September. “The way he reads the game and interprets time and space and his execution in front of goal are simply amazing.”

Meanwhile, his midfield team-mate Axel Witsel told FIFA. “He’s a magician.” “It’s a privilege to play alongside him. He sees things that others don’t and has been producing performances like this for a number of years now. He’s simply outstanding.”

At just 21, Charles De Ketelaere has already established himself as one of the brightest up-and-coming talents in the game.

The towering attacking midfielder, who stands 1.92m tall, attracted the attentions of AC Milan, who this summer shelled out €35m to secure his services on the back of a sensational season last time out with Club Brugge. He produced a particularly eye-catching performance in the Champions League group-stage meeting against Paris Saint-Germain, in which he gave Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe a night to forget as the sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Stade Jan Breydel.

De Ketelaere is capable of operating anywhere across the front line and is equally at home on the left, right, in the No10 role, as a second striker or leading the line. He particularly excels when confronted by opponents in tight spaces.

Although he is yet to have commanded a starting berth in a Belgium side blessed with the attacking talents of Hazard, Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi and De Bruyne, the youngster still represents a very handy option for Martinez in a tournament in which he will have to manage the starlet carefully.

The Red Devils, who struck Olympic gold in 1920, failed to leave their mark on the first few editions of the World Cup and did not manage to get past the first round in the tournaments held between 1930 and 1970.

However, the national team would go on to enjoy better times and qualified for each instalment of the global showpiece between 1982 and 2002. The Europeans produced their best showing in 1986 when they finished fourth after being downed by a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina in the semi-finals. The Belgium fans were made to wait until the 2018 tournament to see their side better that campaign when they secured a third-place finish after overcoming England in the Play-Off for Third Place.

The Belgians’ bid for glory in 2014 came to an end at the quarter-final stage when Argentina were once again their conquerors, while they failed to make the 2006 and 2010 editions.