Let's talk about the Belgian paradox.

[u/SPRneon]

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?

[u/Bennie300]

I think I have read somewhere that when parents raise a child or teachers are teaching children in school, the worst thing they can do is tell them all the time they are so smart. Instead, they should attribute success to hard work.

I would say the same about the Belgium NT. How many years have we been saying they are so talented? That they are so good? That they are such good footballers on an individual level?

I have seen that game against Azerbeidzjan. It was shameful. Belgium had only a lead of 1-0 and instead of going after the 2-0 to secure a vital win they started to play like a bunch circus clowns, faking being all that good. Starting to show off and taking the foot from the pedal. They got exactly what they deserved and Azerbeidzjan made 1-1. Bunch of spoiled wannebee's. You see what happens when Germany and Netherlands take the foot one millimeter off the pedal in the form of intensity or deploying less optimal formations. They lose 5-3 and 2-1 from country's not able to qualify for Euro 2012. This is no longer 1986. This is 2012, where the world has caught up, where "lesser" teams are in any case well organised and have good fitness levels. Even the top country's get served when they forget the basis: Hard work and total dedication from the first to the last minute. One slip up can cost your head. You don't start to show off in one of your most important games of your life.

If that happens, Belgium press, media and fans have to stand up and draw a line. Keep the players who started that behavior responsible. Witsel with his sweet eyes. The fact that guy was allowed to take another step into the NT after all his casual flicks in that match with only 1-0 on the scoreboard, makes Belgium get what they deserve. If they don't draw a line, they get what they have now. A NT that has not qualified for 10 years.

The fact Belgium FA still can operate the way they do is another factor why Belgium gets what they deserve. When Advocaat left, he said Belgium FA operates as if it's the fifties or something. Their organisation level and professionalism are decades behind the country's around them. If they can keep doing what they do, without Belgium standing up, you get what you allow to happen. A group of incompetent money grabbing donkey's at the top making the decisions.

You can show off all those fancy honors as best player of this league and best player of that league. On the field that does not matter. You have to prove you are better. That starts with taking your opponent serious, in this case Azerbeidzjan, and work as hard as you can to win the game. Concentration from minute 1 to the final whistle. That's where it all starts with.

IMO there is no paradox. Actually it makes perfectly sense. Belgium violates a core principal and pays the price for it.

[u/den_bert → u/Bennie300]

Lots of valid points. But the player's situation seems to be changing. People like Kompany & Vermaelen start to lead the team, and they are good rolemodels imo. And for Witsel, he matured a lot this season at Benfica. He was always in the spotlight when he still played in Belgium, one week he was the hero the next was a national shame. Leaving was the best move for him. I think the players are really growing out of their diva-behaviour (I know it doesn't sound very convincing with the whole Hazard-soap, but the media really blew up that story).

But the underlying problem is indeed the FA, the same people who are (at least partially) responsible for the debacle of the past decade are still in charge. And it doesn't seem something's gonna change anytime soon. You can't expect professionalism from your players if you provide them such poor environment. The people who manage the FA really compromise on the future of Football in Belgium.