BRAZIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP SPECIAL
BELGIUM, ALGERIA, RUSSIA, SOUTHKOREA
H
BELGIUM
Wilmots ' army look to spring surprises
BRIEFLY: Belgium are back among the elites for the 2014 FIFA World Cup having ended a 12-year absence with an impressive qualification. This is the Belgians’ golden generation, but inexperience on the global stage could become an issue in the later stages. Good times ahead are anticipated for Marc Wilmots ' star-studded side, who will hope to match or perhaps even better the achievements of previous Red Devils selections. Highlights include a runners-up spot at EURO ' 80 and fourth place at the 1986 World Cup.
MISSION: Belgium have been tipped by many as dark horses for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with the array of young talents they have in their ranks. Their mission in Brazil will be to surpass the last four as they did in 1986.
PREPARATION: Belgium let slip a two-goal lead against the Ivory Coast as the two FIFA World Cup contenders shared the spoils in their recent preparatory match. The Red
STAR MAN
DARK HORSES: Promising Belgium without Christian Benteke can spring the surprises
S O F I A N E F E G H O U L I: French-born midfielder Sofiane Feghouli has quickly become pivotal to the Algerian side since his debut in 2012. He netted five times in 17 international matches, the most vital of which came in the 3-2 defeat in Burkina Faso in the first leg of their play-off round. It was one of the two goals scored in Ouagadougou that set up qualification on the away goals rule after Algeria won the
Devils were unbeaten in their ten qualifying games in Group A winning eight and recording draws against Croatia and Wales at the Koning Boudewijn stadium in Brussels. Their next three friendly games before the Mundial are against Luxemborg, Sweden and Tunisia.
HIGH POINT: They a l s o h a v e a n abundance of versatile attacking players and, crucially, a tight-knit team spirit instilled by Marc Wilmots. B e l g i u m w e r e unbeaten during their World Cup q u a l i f y i n g c a m p a i g n, winning eight and d r a w i n g t w o games against Croatia and Wales i n B r u s s e l s. B e l g i u m a r e a r g u a b l y t h e
KEY MAN emerging European football superpower. They have an amazing array of talented players- with many of them playing in the Premier League. This side has a lot of class and they could go all the way. A quarter-final place would justify their seeding.
LOW POINT: The injury of star striker Christian Benteke who tore his achilles tendon in training at Aston Villa will mount more pressure on Chelsea wantaway striker Romelu
COACH
MARC WILMOTS: A dogged midfielder, Wilmots scored 28 times in 70 appearances for Belgium and appeared at three World Cups. After retirement the 44-year-old dabbled into politics later became a qualified coach.
Alderweireld
Debruyne
STRONGEST LINE-UP Courtois
Van Buy Ten
Dembele
Mirallas
ISHAK BELFODIL: The attacking midfielder moved to Inter Milan in the summer of 2013. He ' s hard-working, quick over the ground and boasts sublime skills. The 21 year old striker is in his first season with Inter Milan after the club bought 50 % of his economic rights from Parma. Belfodil so far has chalked up two caps with the Algerian national team.
Kompany
Witsel
Lukaku
FORMATION: 4-4-2
Vertonghen
Hazard
KEY
MAN MADJIRD BOUGHERRA( LEKHWIYA): Former Rangers rock Madjid Bougherra, 31, is the shaven-headed enforcer at the heart of Algeria ' s defence, though he is probably past his best. The tough tacking defender is also the captain of Algeria. Algeria’ s place at the World Cup was secured thanks to Bougherra’ s winning goal in the qualification playoff with Burkina Faso.
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