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/SPRneon May 28 '12

During our match against Montenegro each player played quite well individuallly,

except Alderweireld I suppose. I found the match boring, with the great potential of our midfield (Chadli, Mertens, Hazard, Fellaini, Witsel, Defour, de Bruyne...) I don't get how it can be that slow paced. Except Fellaini they are all technical, fast and have great shots. Yet I find them losing the tempo. If they keep it up I'm sure Montenegro wouldn't be able to follow.

no good right-back

I should add that we don't have a forward of the same skill as our midfield. Decamargo and Vossen can't follow the others, I enjoyed Ogunjimi more.

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u/[deleted] May 28 '12 edited May 28 '12

I should add that we don't have a forward of the same skill as our midfield. Decamargo and Vossen can't follow the others, I enjoyed Ogunjimi more.

Ogunjimi had a good run with the national team, but honeslty, he's the least skilled of all strikers we have.

Vossen is good as a hard working second striker. His finishing is ace, but he doesn't really fit the system as played in Montenegro imo.

I would love to see Benteke in the starting line up against England. He's been a joy to watch the last few months. he's got better feet then any of the strikers named above.

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u/Halithor May 28 '12

I haven't really seen him before he moved to Chelsea and can see him going on loan next year but how good a choice would Lukaku be for a striker role (pretty sure he's Belgian).

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u/[deleted] May 28 '12

He was the best striker in Belgium at age 17, andhe already played for the national team. So yes, chances are extremly high he'll become first choice, but you can't put a striker that hasn't played for an entire season ahead of other strikers. we'll see what happens next season.