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Been following the world cup qualifying and all the hype over England as usual. When looking at who will be at the world cup there will be the usual favourites Germany, Spain and Holland ( prior to when they do their usual self destruct act). However Belgium have had 7 wins and 1 draw and seem to have gone about there business unnoticed. Their league is a small league so wondering what the secret to their success is. Millions seems to be going into the English game but where are the international standard footballers?
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 13:05 - Sep 7 with 5475 views
Good academies perhaps? Many Belgian players begin playing in the Belgian Pro League before they're shipped off to Germany (e.g Kompany), France (Hazard) or England (Beneteke). Even more surprising is that they play with synergy despite being divided up into many European leagues rather than just 1.
It is probably easier to organise a coaching upheaval to comply with modern standards in a smaller country like Belgium, but it's still admirable. We'd do well to copy them...
[Post edited 7 Sep 2013 14:20]
“The thing about football - the important thing about football - is that it is not just about football.â€
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 13:18 - Sep 7 with 5457 views
Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 13:05 - Sep 7 by Jigsore
Good academies perhaps? Many Belgian players begin playing in the Belgian Pro League before they're shipped off to Germany (e.g Kompany), France (Hazard) or England (Beneteke). Even more surprising is that they play with synergy despite being divided up into many European leagues rather than just 1.
It is probably easier to organise a coaching upheaval to comply with modern standards in a smaller country like Belgium, but it's still admirable. We'd do well to copy them...
[Post edited 7 Sep 2013 14:20]
And played last night without Hazard, Kompany and (Mignolet) who was on the bench. Will definitely be watching their matches in Brazil.
[Post edited 7 Sep 2013 13:19]
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 13:22 - Sep 7 with 5443 views
they do have a good team with some good individuals they remind me of the Denmark team of 86 , lets see if they can sustain their current form to the World cup a lot can happen between that time and now, can they still churn out world class players in 10 years or is it luck that this group have all come at the right time still fancy Argentina for the World cup they will win on Brazilian soil you can just see it
And Bowles is onside, Swinburne has come rushing out of his goal , what can Bowles do here , onto the left foot no, on to the right foot
That’s there that’s two, and that’s Bowles
Brian Moore
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 13:40 - Sep 7 with 5419 views
I think if you look at their side they have some outstanding talent. Benteke and Lukaku up front, a choice of Fellani, Defour, Van Damme, Mirrales, Hazard, Chandli, Witsel and De Bruyne in midfield, they can be a powerful and yet quick side that can choose to dominate or hit teams on the counter depending on who they play.. Kompany is world class, and vertongan is quality, and their two keepers are both very highly thought of, this is a side that should be expecting to do great things in their next two or three international tournaments.. They have a good work ethic in that side and some real winners.. On their day both strikers can be unstoppable.. Definitely looking forward to them upsetting some of the 'bigger' sides, I'd love to see them play the Dutch in the semi's..
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 15:57 - Sep 7 with 5316 views
Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 13:32 - Sep 7 by paulparker
they do have a good team with some good individuals they remind me of the Denmark team of 86 , lets see if they can sustain their current form to the World cup a lot can happen between that time and now, can they still churn out world class players in 10 years or is it luck that this group have all come at the right time still fancy Argentina for the World cup they will win on Brazilian soil you can just see it
You could be right, the Danes had an amazing generation of players, and there was a lot of talk about the way they coached their kids - eg that kids had to play in a different position each week to improve their all-round skills and awareness. Not looking so good now.
Remember that Jesper Olsen pass straight to Butragueno when they were leading Spain in 86 World Cup? After looking the best team in the comp they ended up losing 5-1 to Spain.
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 15:59 - Sep 7 with 5314 views
Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 13:22 - Sep 7 by RblockPrior
I have said all along they will make the semi finals of the world cup
I've had an each-way bet on them winning the thing! The main thing against them is their country's collective inexperience at international tournaments over the past few years.
QPR - "shit but local"
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 16:17 - Sep 7 with 5303 views
After Greg Dyke's recent speech, someone recently asked the head of the Belgian FA as to why they had been so successful recently. His response was along the lines of, they got lucky having a generation of decent players emerge at the same time. Most disappear from Belgium at any early age to ply their trade (and to be coached) and there certainly hasnt been any strategic direction from the Belgian FA to bring this about. They just got lucky.
They have hit on a decent crop of players after being rubbish for the last 20 odd years, I'm still yet to be convinced though. Why didn't they qualify for the last Euro's?
Denmark 86 were fantastic won 3 group games even beating West Germany 2-0 then imploded in the second round badly.
I think there's a lot of hype but until they've done it on the big stage I won't be making silly predictions. England player for player are no worse.
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 17:36 - Sep 7 with 5260 views
Not really a shock as they are the 3rd most expensive international team in terms of transfer fees behind Brazil and Portugal and due to the weakness of Belgian league youngsters can get to learn their trade playing for 3 or 4 years before a move to the bigger leagues.Potential semi finalists with a lucky draw but just don't see them beating a Germany or Brazil or Spain or Argentina which they will have to do to win the World Cup.
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 15:36 - Sep 8 with 5050 views
The secret isn't really a secret. The group they are in is very weak; Croatia out of sorts due to poor manager should be top of this group easily, out played Belgium away but unlucky with last minute equaliser. Serbia a team in transition will be one to watch once the youngsters get a few more games. Macedonia championship side Scotland same as Macedonia but have got better with the change in manager but even then lack quality. Wales nowhere near enough quality, need more than Bale.
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 16:00 - Sep 8 with 5028 views
Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 15:57 - Sep 7 by MrSheen
You could be right, the Danes had an amazing generation of players, and there was a lot of talk about the way they coached their kids - eg that kids had to play in a different position each week to improve their all-round skills and awareness. Not looking so good now.
Remember that Jesper Olsen pass straight to Butragueno when they were leading Spain in 86 World Cup? After looking the best team in the comp they ended up losing 5-1 to Spain.
No, the Danish side is not as good as it was, but any small country like that will have peaks and troughs - like Belgium have done - this is their first really good side for 20-odd years. Denmark only has 5.5m people - and yet they regularly qualify for tournaments, are always tough to beat and England barely do better than them! Real shame in 1986, though. I wonder if the tournament had been in Europe what might have happened?
Bare bones.
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 19:00 - Sep 8 with 4960 views
A Premier League Belgian XI Mignolet; Boyatte, Kompany, Vertonghen, Vermaelen; Hazard, Dembele, Fellaini, Mirallas; Benteke, Lukaku.
Who said you couldn't name 2 famous Belgians?
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky
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Belgium - surprising successful European team? on 00:31 - Sep 9 with 4880 views
They were always useful then disappeared for about twenty years. The same can be said of Hungary, who are poor these days, and probably Serbia and Romania. Belgium are currently a side that most would do well to avoid, the type of side that England usually end up facing. WC semi finalists in '86, when they lost to Maradona, although it must be said they were extremely lucky against Russia in the previous round, when Ceulemans equalised when about ten yards offside.
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