Laudably grounded. Great to see a new force, or at least the return of an old one on the European scene. I'd really like to see you ruffling feathers in Brazil.
Are Belgium the next big thing in International Football?
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Laudably grounded. Great to see a new force, or at least the return of an old one on the European scene. I'd really like to see you ruffling feathers in Brazil.
I remember being impressed with him the last time Belgium came through to Scotland in 2001 when we were going head-to-head for qualification for 2002. Decent team that, were unlucky against Brazil with the disallowed overhead from Wilmots.
The most corrupted W.C. of all times.
Dries Mertens as well as Mirallas and Lukaku are good back-up options to have. Just seen that Chadli's also there.
I'm just so relieved we finally have a couple of Belgians in our first team, we've been way behind this curve.
See what happens when you bring 2 of them on for 20 minutes or so?
See what happens when you bring 2 of them on for 20 minutes or so?
Benteke to be the third ? 
Belgium and Colombia seem to be progressing very rapidly and nicely in these qualifications. Both teams are full of talented players and it's looking promising for them.
Well we missed out on the Spanish and German hype train so at least we got some Belgians in.
Well they have been very good qualifiers in this campaign, probably the most impressive of all the European sides. When I've seen them they've looked a very solid outfit defensively as well as having the attacking firepower, only conceded 3 goals in 9 games. Obviously you'd like to see them up against the elite of Spain, Germany, Brazil etc to judge exactly where they are right now but they've got steel, quality and strength all over the pitch.
The phrase dark horses applies to them for next year I think and will be very interested to see how they go, I don't think any of us expect them to win it but they should be looking at reaching the QF really with the quality they have and a good tournament here would have many believing that they could be in with a real shot at Euro 2016 if this group of players progresses as quickly as they are doing.
The phrase dark horses applies to them for next year I think and will be very interested to see how they go, I don't think any of us expect them to win it but they should be looking at reaching the QF really with the quality they have and a good tournament here would have many believing that they could be in with a real shot at Euro 2016 if this group of players progresses as quickly as they are doing.
I hope they fulfill their potential
Which is what? That squad will do well to get past the first knockout round, and I can guarantee they won't get past the quarters. They've got a good side, and a decent squad. They're still miles behind footballs powerhouses.
The two football powerhouses? Maybe 3 if you include Italy but everyone else is there for the taking.
You can't guarantee anything, it all depends on the draw. If we get Germany or a similar opponent in the first knockout it's fecked, but at the same time it's entirely possible to draw relatively weaker teams. In 2010 Urugay made the semi finals by beating South Korea and Ghana. It's pointless to make predictions.
It would have been easy to dismiss the "never win anything" Spanish in the same way a decade ago.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying the Belgians have the players Spain had coming through back then, they are still well short of having anything like what it takes to do anything like what Spain did. But it does prove that ideas of untouchable footballing power-houses can be changed with time.
In fact, over the last few decades, there generally has been one other European nation up there with the "big two" - roughly speaking you could say it's gone Holland-France-Spain. Who is to say Belgian couldn't have a go for a few years at some point? More likely than England anyway!
Kinda cute in what high regard we are still held.
On a good day Belgium can easily get past Germany just like Italy did 2012. We may have one of the strongest squads, but with a clear lack in the tactical department it does not mean much.
I think it's based on the fact you have reached at least the SF's of the last 4 major tournaments and are always there or thereabouts when it comes to the business end. Germany have to be respected as their historical record is awesome.
Disagree with that. Even though our defense has improved immeasurably under Wilmots, we're still too vulnerable on the flanks (Vertonghen is usually good enough, but could still quite easily get caught out, and the right-back spot is definitely the weakest in our squad) and rely too much on one player for creativity (De Bruyne, sometimes Mertens if he plays; both aren't currently starters with their clubs either), or flashes of brilliance from Benteke/Lukaku. And while everyone is raving at the options we have in midfield, they fail to see that beyond De Bruyne there is just no penetration there. Witsel is awesome in his box-to-box capacity, and when paired with the likes of Fellaini, Defour or Dembélé they form an incredibly solid trio, but completely devoid of any sort of creativity. Hazard has been steadily improving, but still just cannot get the "stats" his talent should bring in, only 2 goals of which one a penalty (both against the weakest opponent in the group, Macedonia).
I still remember the previous games against you guys, in the Euro 2012 qualifiers. The opening game we were at home and looking like pulling off a 0-0 draw, until as in all games against top opposition Fellaini handed you guys the victory with his nonchalance around our own box. In the final game it was do-or-die, you guys had already been qualified so nothing to play for, we were in 2nd spot, one point ahead of Turkey who were at home to Azerbaijan (which they won 1-0) and so a win would guarantee us passage to the play-offs... we were completely demolished, 3-0 down after 50 minutes. Apart from Courtois, De Bruyne and Benteke that was the same team as for the majority of this campaign... they have all three made a huge impact it's true, but don't think it will suffice against the truely top nations under normal circumstances.
I'm very curious though... and hell, it's been 11 years since we were last a major tournament, if the current crop can replicate that success (R16 defeat to Brazil back in '02, when we at the very least matched and often outclassed them for the majority of the game and had a valid goal disallowed by a "questionable" ref), it would already be more than we could've hoped for.
Yeah I'm still not too sure how you let that one happen. But you have a history of performing in international finals. There's always a winning mentality and determination in German sides and it seems to bring out the best on the biggest stage. And the team you've got right now is unreal. Maybe you lack a really great striker but other than that you've got a world class player in almost every position.
Frankly that's a ridiculously self-deprecating statement. You're either psychotically pessemitic by nature, or you are laying on false modesty far too thick.
There have been Germany squads in the past (the recent past at that) that have been written off as not being up to scratch, and still they always cope with tournaments with ease. This quad is brimming with quality and will have no problem being there or there abouts next summer.
You should try being English to get some perspective.
You can have our manager if you like, maybe then you would understand him a bit better. I agree that his comment is over the top, but there's not a lot of belief in the German nationalteam at the moment and we certainly lack the mentality that made our teams great in the past.
Good grief man - he's taken you to two semi-finals and a final in his three tournaments. Yeah, help yourself to Roy fecking Hodgson.
And people say United fans are spoilt!
I didn't say I want Hodgson instead and yes, we probably are spoilt in Germany. Doesn't change that since the world cup in 2010 it looks like Löw isn't getting the best out of the team and his decisions at the Euro 2012 were shockingly bad.
Well in that case you can keep him... because I'd hate to see you with a good manager.
Well, I still hope that some crazy sugardaddy club decides to throw silly money at Löw and Heynckes takes over for a few years, he'd be perfect. But Löw will extend his contract next week and if he doesn't feck up massively at the world cup, he stays.
While Belgium have improved massively, I feel they will lack the experience to go all the way.
For me it's going to be Germany or one of the South American teams, I honestly don't see Spain as a favourite at all right now, we're just fecking awful lately.
For me it's going to be Germany or one of the South American teams, I honestly don't see Spain as a favourite at all right now, we're just fecking awful lately.
I think Belgium is comparable to Bulgaria 94 or Croatia 98, wonderful team, could easily make the quarterfinals and if one of the big teams fecks up, are good for a surprise but not good enough to win.
I'd be a little disappointed with Belgium if they don't make the quarters, but extremely surprised if they get into the final.
They've been under-performing with basically the same set of players for so long that you never really know, but it does seem to be coming together finally.
They've been under-performing with basically the same set of players for so long that you never really know, but it does seem to be coming together finally.
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That statement can be/was applied to Spain for a couple decades until the right group of players came along at the right time.
That statement can be/was applied to Spain for a couple decades until the right group of players came along at the right time.
They are a good side and should make it out of the group stages, but in my opinion, name recognition has caused people to put Belgium on a much higher level than what they are. Whether it's an international or a club side, the best teams usually have quite a few top class players in their side and/or play as a team with an incredible understanding between everyone. I don't think Belgium has either of these things.
Kompany is world class and Courtois, Hazard and Lukaku have potential to be great, but the rest of the squad is made up of players who we all know like Fellaini, Vertonghen and Witsel but they range from good to decent. If you compare their squad with Germany's or Spain's the difference in the level of talent is quite big.
Kompany is world class and Courtois, Hazard and Lukaku have potential to be great, but the rest of the squad is made up of players who we all know like Fellaini, Vertonghen and Witsel but they range from good to decent. If you compare their squad with Germany's or Spain's the difference in the level of talent is quite big.
Not the next best thing but they have a wealth of talent coming through and could make the final of the next Euros perhaps.They will have to go some to get the better of both Germany and Spain yet those finals are three years away.They remind me a little of Portugal a few years back when Ronnie was with us and i agree with manutddjw, they have a couple of world class players and some with the potential to be WC but the rest of the squad is made up of good players that perform well mostly at club level but nothing more.There is plenty for the right coach to work with and it will be interesting to see them at the world cup.I wouldn't be confident if England had to face them mind!
Do you really think so though? I've seen a lot of people say that the tactics were wrong and stuff, but no one has mentioned that you've got an awful record against the Italians. You just don't beat the Italians. I think there was a mental thing there more than anything else. Think of when England go to penalties or play someone like Portugal. You've grown up watching these games and your team lose all the time. It's in the back of your mind, and as a result, England can't win shootouts.
Having said that, I don't think Germany will win the World Cup, Spain certainly won't make it four in a row. I'm not sure about Brazil. I'd have them as favourites partly because it's in their back yard, but I'm not sure the quality's there in the squad.
I only meant for 2014. Obviously if they met/exceeded those expectations and got to the quarters or the semis, I'd expect them to build on them and do even better in the next tournament.
It's not just about the result - any team can lose vs Italy in a semi. And I don't think history played a big part in that game. It's all about his particular decisions, because they shaped the game before it even started. For example taking out Klose and Reus who (especially the latter) had a great game against Greece and introducing Podolski and Gomez for them which ended up with Löw reverting his changes at half time (Gomez had little more than 10 touches at that point iirc). He also gets a lot of criticism for playing Kroos in that game, but I think that made sense.
Another thing which annoyed some people was that he played Schweinsteiger who just came back from a longer injury and supposedly said that he's not fully fit and wouldn't insist on playing.
Another problem is that the team tends to lack defensive organization and stability, especially the Khedira/Schweinsteiger pairing had some misunderstandings concerning who is going to play the more defensive part in certain situations.
And last but not least he's not very good in interviews, for example he sort of blamed Hummels for the loss against Italy in the post match interview and made some other thoughtless remarks in the media. Such as saying something similar to 'Schmelzer had a bad game against Austria, but there aren't many other players on his position, so I have to work with him for the next couple of months, however we will look for alternatives' which of course created a rather big media stir after which he relativized his statements.
Anyway.. btt:
I agree wth mutddjw, Belgium are overrated right now. To me they look like a solid tier 2 (as in below Germany, Italy, Spain, probably Brazil - who I would rank as tier 1), however from what I read they are supposed to be the dark horse for the title next year. Especially players like Vertonghen, Fellaini, Dembele, Benteke, Lukaku seem to be perceived a lot stronger than they actually are, because they play in the PL, so everyone knows theire name and most people probably have some great goal or w/e of them in mind when they think about them.
Like do.ob said, it's not that we lost and I don't think it was a mental thing either. We already had problems against Greece, but instead of adressing those, he ignored them and cut our strengths, chose the wrong players for the roles they should play and it all massively backfired. Of course, we could have lost anyway, we also could have won despite Löw's idiocy, but his decisions at the Euro are worrying.
This was published in 2002:
It wasn't like, it was published this year. The giveaway being the date in the top corner.
Screw my trolling skills.
I don't think they're the next big thing in international football. They're a medium sized football nation having a very good generation, like others have before them. Maybe a similar level as Czech Republic in 2004, although they had a geniune world superstar in their side.
Kompany's head was that size from birth wasn't it.
That, and people often forget it takes a lot more than a group of disparate, promising players to make a great national team.