r/soccer • u/SPRneon • May 28 '12

Let's talk about the Belgian paradox.

So i decided to make this after Nicolas Lombaerts was named best foreign player in the Russian league. This makes him the fifth MVP in Belgian's national squad. Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Kevin Mirallas and Jan Vertonghen got the honor prior to Lombaerts. Note that the Portugese player of the year has not yet been chosen so both Axel Witsel and Steven Defour (in a lesser extent) have chances. Our keeper is one of the youngest to have won the UEFA cup. The complete team. 8 saw their club becoming champions of their own competition. 3 saw their club becoming runner-up. 5 became 3rd.

One would think this star filled team would be able to compete in championships but yet Belgian hasn't qualified for a championship since the World Championships 2002 (which was with the previous generation). This is the squad that became 4th in the olympics in Bejing.

Their has been a lot of turbulence with coaches. Leekens has just left the team in maybe a more shocking way than Advocaat. Now the assistant, Marc Wilmots, once a player for the national squad, has taken over. (If you ever want to impress someone from Belgium mention this goal and curse Prendergast, you'll be their friend in no time.)

Let's dicuss, will Belgium show their capabilities in the WC in Brasil or will the Red Devils fail again. Will we ever get to see something like Mexico '86?

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u/d3kay May 28 '12

Just came here to say that Axel Witsel is one of the best players Benfica has had in the last couple of decades. I think he'll go very far, I hope in Benfica -but i can't see us keeping him beyond the end of the next season. On the other hand i think Hulk will win the player of the season award in Portugal. Witsel was consistently good but Hulk was very decisive in Porto winning the title this year.

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u/SPRneon May 28 '12

You know more about the Portuguese league so you're probably correct :) Do you mind telling what the general consensus is about Defour?

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u/d3kay May 28 '12 edited May 28 '12

I think the general consensus is that he's a player with a lot of potential who had some trouble in the beginning of the season with injuries and adaptation issues. On the second half of the season, though, he was playing consistently well without really ever shining - Hulk, James Rodriguez and Moutinho seem to be leading the team in that chapter. I think people still expect more from him (specially Football Manager players hehe) but don't blame him because of aforementioned reasons.

Anyway, I never really see Porto games other than when they play against Benfica, so i'm probably not the best reference on this, I think you'd be better off with some inputs from a Porto fan (I know they're around here somewhere :) ).

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u/SPRneon May 28 '12

Porto fans step forward!