ThisDrinkingLife and The World Cup: Belgium

Belgium, everyone’s favourite dark horses for years now, might be actually in a position to win the damn thing this time round. Spain and Portugal finally got to throw off the tag of nearly men, can Belgium do it this time? I think they have a real chance of doing so.

In a group featuring the mighty England and the not so mighty Tunisia and first timers Panama, they should easily get into round two. It doesn’t really matter too much if it is first or second, as that more or less means you get to play probably Senegal/Poland/Colombia, all three teams beatable but in the quarters you will have either Germany or Brazil no matter what side of the draw you are in. Can they get past the quarters? That is the question. In one sense playing Brazil or Germany could be their final as you’d expect that if they won that game then they would be hot favourites to lift the trophy. But we thought that before, remember the Euros and the crash to the Welsh!! Have they learned from that?

Roberto Martínez is a manager who has done well with small teams, especially in cup competitions, so I am sure he has the team well grounded. The midfield maestro of Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne, started the season on fire, and it looked to me at least that he quietened down a little after it looked that City would win the EPL. Was he trying to preserve himself for the World Cup? If so, then Belgium are a serious threat as De Bruyne when he is on form is easily the best player in the world. Belgium really need him to click, as they have the big oaf Romelu Lukaku up front who needs the ball to be put on a plate before he can score a goal.

As for the rest of the squad, they have Eden hazard who can be hot or cold, Marouane Fellaini mostly cold, and an ever slower Vincent Kompany in defence, but when they click they can play some good football and easily brush aside teams. I have to say I am a little surprised that Martínez decided not to bring Radja Nainggolan to Russia. But I guess he knows his squad inside and out at this late stage so you would have to trust the manager. For now!

So overall I wouldn’t be surprised if Belgium got to the final and even won the cup. But the question for me is can they beat Germany or Brazil? Its a tough question, lets see in a months time.