Belgium are back in the World Cup after 12 years, and with their hottest crop of players in a generation.
With an incredible knack for timing, Belgium’s best have conspired to come of age in one providential season which has seen them taking on leading roles in England and Spain, the toughest two leagues in the world.
It has even pushed national team captain Vincent Kompany to mention the unspeakable – winning the World Cup in Brazil.
“I don’t think we will be able to win the World Cup on talent alone. But given some luck, a strong performance by everyone and the right team spirit ...,” the Manchester City defender said, trailing off at the thought of Belgium winning their first major title since the 1920 Olympics.
The draw has also provided a helping hand, putting Belgium in Group H with Russia, South Korea and Algeria. Advancing from that group should pose few problems for the Belgians.
From then on, the side have a few men that could turn any game in a flash of one brilliant action.
At 21, Thibaut Courtois has used his loan stint from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid to become the best goalkeeper in Spain. If he comes face-to-face with Cristiano Ronaldo – which is possible in the second round – he won’t be intimidated.
Courtois was man of the match when he won the Copa del Rey last season in a Madrid derby. And he knows the pressure of winning all too well with Atletico going for both the domestic and Champions League titles this season.
Up front, playmaker Eden Hazard is gaining in poise and confidence almost by the week, pushing Chelsea toward the top of the Premier League table and making him a prized protege of ever-demanding manager Jose Mourinho.
Calm and inspiration will not only be forthcoming from Kompany. Just about all first-team players earn their money abroad, from Russia to Portugal over to Germany and Italy. Yet, when it comes to the World Cup, just about all will be rookies.
Then again, Marc Wilmots has the experience to make up for all. He played in four World Cups and now is headed to his first as a coach.
Belgium surprised the world when they pushed right into the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, stopped only by Diego Maradona and eventual winners Argentina. Wilmots got on board four years later as a burly, ebullient midfielder, and in four editions his team was often solid but not good enough to reach the quarter-finals.
In Belgium’s last World Cup match, they were stopped by eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16 at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.
Now, Wilmots is bent on taking his team further.
“Everybody who has gotten past the first round of a World Cup will tell you,” Wilmots told Le Soir newspaper, “it is the form of the moment that will make the difference.”
With only a few notable exceptions, Belgium have often been a team bigger than the sum of their players.
This time, after an absence of 12 years, the Belgians are back at the World Cup with several players known around the world, including Vincent Kompany and Eden Hazard.
Just about the entire squad play abroad, and many in the biggest leagues, giving the Belgians a hope they haven’t had since reaching the semi-finals in 1986.
Here are five players to watch:
Vincent Kompany – If anyone epitomises the revival of Belgian football, it is central defender Vincent Kompany.
Kompany was a prodigy at 17 with Anderlecht, and in 2012 he was the rock on which Manchester City built their first Premier League title in 44 years.
Now 28, he continues to be the anchor for one of the richest teams in one of the world’s toughest leagues.
Beyond his positioning and physical prowess, Kompany is best known for his leadership qualities, earning him the captaincy at both City and the Belgian national team.
Eden Hazard – If Vincent Kompany is dependency personified, Eden Hazard is counted on for creativity. And if he extends the way he has been playing for Chelsea on the World Cup stage in Brazil, he could well become one of the marquee players of the tournament.
Hazard developed his skills for Lille in Ligue 1, and his speed, agility, passing precision and tactical insight turned him into the best player of that league before Chelsea lured him to London.
Thibaut Courtois – Outplay Belgium and there still remains one massive problem for any team at the World Cup – how to get past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Like so many Belgians, he looked abroad from an early age and left Racing Genk for Chelsea, who almost immediately sent him on to Atletico Madrid.
What looked like a demotion for some turned out to be a gift unlike few others.
Courtois won the Europa League as a teenager, the Copa del Rey over Real Madrid, and faces some of the world’s best strikers on a weekly basis to hone his skills.
At 21, the towering goalkeeper with an immense reach is already one of the best in the world.
Romelu Lukaku – An all-out striker has never been Belgium’s forte. And amid the glittering array of goalkeepers, defenders and playmakers, it is up to Romelu Lukaku to impose himself as the team’s fearful frontman.
Lukaku already did so in the match that qualified Belgium for the World Cup, scoring two first-half goals in Croatia that effectively muzzled the home team.
A striker that uses body and bulk rather than sweet skills, Lukaku keeps bouncing back. At 20, he has already faced several setbacks at Chelsea, but when he went to West Bromwich Albion and, this season, to Everton, he always proved there was plenty left in him.
Kevin De Bruyne – Lanky winger Kevin De Bruyne has had perhaps the strongest World Cup qualifying campaign of all Belgians.
At club level, though, the 23-year-old De Bruyne has had a disappointing year. He started out with high ambitions with Chelsea, but after he fell out with manager Jose Mourinho, he rarely made it past the bench.
Now, he is reviving his career in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.
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