Europhiles Notebook - What Ails Belgium ?

Just, what is wrong with Belgium ?

Belgium's Lineup During Euro 2012 Qualification

At the time of writing, Belgium sit second in Group A of Euro 2012 Qualifying. In a six nation group where each team plays 10 matches (double round robin games each of the other five teams, home and away), Germany are the distant leaders with 21 points from their seven matches. Belgium are way behind with just 11 from their seven completed games.

Jonathan Legear

With one of their three remaining games at home and matches against minnows Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan still to come, Belgium's progress from the group seems likely, but is still not assured. Although Belgium are in pole position amongst the trio of Austria, Turkey and themselves to reach the playoffs, plenty can still happen to unseat them in the runners-up spot - Germany have sealed the group and cannot be caught.

Steven Defour

With a tendency to drop leads, draw games they should win and an odd mental fragility, Belgium will still be looking nervously over their shoulder.  For one, Turkey sit but a point behind with a game in hand.  Intriguingly, the remaining game after the Eastern European nations is an away tie at Germany on October 6 2011.  Even if Germany were to rest their starters and give their regulars a breather, their strength in depth would still mean Belgium would face a daunting trip against a skilled and motivated lineup of fringe players and reserves. Moreover with Azerbaijan, celebrating its 100th year as a footballing nation and having already beaten Turkey at home, Belgium cannot guarantee three points from their trip to Baku.

Thomas Vermaelen

So, the potential for progression needs to be tempered with caution and vigilance.  If Belgium were to win both games  against the former Soviet Republics and take a point from Germany, Turkey could still overhaul them if they won all their three remaining home games, two of which are against the same pair. And even if they missed out on a full complement (assuming a draw from the visit of Germany on October 7), Turkey could make up the complement with a win on the road against a lacklustre Austria.

Jan Vertonghen

The peculiarities of the qualifying campaign mean that Turkey play twice in September and twice in October. Belgium, only plays once in September. So, by the time the last round is to be played, Turkey would have had a chance to win three games, whereas Belgium would have only had a maximum on six points on tap.

Timmy Simons

October 11, 2011, will be the key date on both Belgium and Turkey's calendars. If they are still in the running by that time, Belgium will need to match or better Turkey's result.  However while Belgium travel to Germany, Turkey will be hosting and probably exacting revenge on, Azerbaijan.

(All dates 2011)

Azerbaijan v Belgium on September 6

Belgium v Kazakhstan on October 7

Germany v Belgium on October 11

Turkey v Kazakhstan on September 2

Austria v Turkey on September 6

Turkey v Germany on October 7

Turkey v Azerbaijan on October 11

If Belgium, with three wins, and Turkey, following three wins and a draw, are even on 20 points at the end of the group stage, the latter will continue to the playoffs on account of a better head-to-head record. While Turkey beat Belgium 3-2 at home, Belgium could only draw with Turkey 1-1 in the reverse fixture.

Romelu Lukaku

However, how did it come to this.  This Belgian team is brimming with talent and contains strong, robust, physical players who blend excellent technique and no small amount of flair.  The latest generation of Belgian talent has fully emerged and are in their prime.  Yet, they missed out on World 2010 after finishing a distant fourth in their group (once again ending up behind Turkey, who finished third) and are making heavy weather of what should have been a manageable group.

Moussa Dembele

Looking around at the team, one cannot help but notice the galaxy of talent, many of whom are coveted by Europe's top clubs:

Eden Hazard

Up front, they possess a youthful pair of attackers in Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht, 18) and Eden Hazard (Lille, 20), both of whom are irrepressible going forward.  While Lukaku is a brutish, physical specimen that reminds one of a youthful Didier Drogba, Hazard is a slick goalscoring and chance creating machine on the wing, a super charged Ferrari who set Ligue 1 alight last season.  The pair are arguably the most exciting pair of forwards at any of Europe's national teams.

Bjorn Vleminckx

2010-11 Eredivisie's leading scorer Bjorn Vlemincx (Club Brugge / NEC, 25) provides another option in attack, with a direct style built on running, excellent close control and heading, that brought him 23 goals last season. Further afield are Moussa Dembele (Fulham, 24) and Jelle Vossen (Racing Genk, 22), hardly slouches in front of goal.

Vincent Kompany

In midfield the triumvirate of powerhouse midfielder Steven Defour (Standard Liege, 23), who delivered a commanding season last year on his return from injury; defensive midfielder Marouane Felliani (Everton, 23), one of the toughest and most physical players to line up against in the Premiership and winger Jonathan Legear (Anderlecht, 24) present a daunting challenge to opposing teams.  With Jan Vertonghen (Ajax, 24), and Alex Witsel (Benfica, 22) also available in the centre of the park alongside the experienced Timmy Simons (PSV / Nurnberg, 34) and the late maturing Jelle Van Damme (Standard Liege, 27), Belgium's midfield is as good as most teams in Europe, with the exception of Spain, Portugal, Holland and Germany.

Daniel Van Buyten

Finally, when one looks in defence and casts their eyes over captain Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal, 25), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City, 25) and evergreen man mountain Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich, 33), it is hard to believe that this team is on the verge of missing out on its second consecutive international tournament.

Simon Mignolet

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (Sunderland, 22) is one of the Premiership's best kept secrets and is already a master of his art, with the starting job at both club and country despite his tender years.

Marouane Felliani

In fact, a spine of Mignolet, Vermaelen, Van Buyten, Kompany, Defour, Vertonghen, Felliani, Hazard, Lukaku makes one wonder how many other nations can boast such riches. Strong, gifted, technical and experienced players who are the peak of their careers.

Alex Witsel

The fresh blood during the qualifying campaign have also played exceptionally well, with Nacer Chadli (Twente, 21) scoring once in his four games and Marvin Ogunjimi (Racing Genk, 23) having notched four goals in as many games, with a hat-trick on debut. So now, depth seems not be a problem either.

Jelle Van Damme

Belgium are punching way below their weight and should have run Germany close in this group. A close 1-0 defeat at home to the Germans was followed by the disappointing results against the Turks and an astounding 4-4 draw at home to Austria, in a game where Belgium had a 4-3 lead till the 93rd minute. Their 10 games during World Cup 2010 qualifying saw six defeats.

Jelle Vossen

A lack of defensive resilience and a shortage of creativity are some of the ills holding Belgium back. While Hazard is a natural playmaker, his position is either at the front or on the wing. Defour, Felliani and Vertonghen are defensive midfielders who harry, tackle, screen and press, with the latter also capable of filling in at centre back or left back.  Legear and Witsel are both wingers and Simons and Van Damme are defensive utility men who can slot in anywhere in the back four, or in midfield, but cannot dictate play. So, while the team is filled with useful and talented players, they are all similar in their style, and lack playmaking skills from a central, preferably, deeper position.  Turkey has Nuri Sahin and the Altintops, Germany has Muller, Khedira, Oezil and Schweinsteiger, but Belgium lack a creative artist pulling strings in the middle of the park. With their play mostly going through the middle, it is graft that is Belgium's stock in trade, not craft.

Belgium 4-4 Austria

A tactical switch, playing the ball to Hazard and Legear/Witsel on the wings with a front two of Lukaku and Vlemincx might bring a change. Alternatively, a front three with Hazard in a deeper position behind the above attacking pair, could prove useful. However, with lots of bodies who primarily tackle and press at the back of the park, there is no one to get things going in front of the defence.

George Leekens

Injury concerns have not helped either, Vermaelen was injured was large parts of last season, as was Defour, the season before, in a horrific injury that broke his right foot.  Moreover, mental strength has been found wanting, something that manager George Leekens, will want to address, in this, his second stint with the national side.

Still, everything been said, Belgium contain enough talent to go through and if they do, no one would want to meet them in the playoff round.

The Red Devils are slowly coming together or perhaps unravelling altogether.  Either way, the next few rounds of games will decide their fate.  One hopes to see them at Euro 2012, if only to see an exciting crop of players, all stars for their teams, play together at their peak during a major tournament.