DBasia.news – The 2022 World Cup will be the 13th World Cup for the Belgian national team. Although they have appeared quite often at the grand event of world football every four years, Belgium have never been the champion with the best achievements in 2018.
At that time Eden Hazard and his team took third place after their trip ran aground in the semifinals. No doubt the 2022 World Cup will be a test as well as potential proof of the Belgian golden generation.
It’s no secret that the golden generation is labeled for Belgium as they have top European stars who have careers in Europe’s top leagues, such as Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.
However, they are no longer young and the 2022 World Cup will be their last chance to prove it. Belgium are in group F along with Canada, Croatia and Morocco.
Goalkeeper
Roberto Martinez brought three 30-year-old goalkeepers to Qatar, namely Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet and Koen Casteels. Among the three Real Madrid goalkeepers with 96 caps, Courtois (30) will be the main choice.
The coating has also been adequate as Mignolet has 35 caps, and has played for Liverpool. There is no problem in this position.
Defender
The 2022 World Cup could be the last for Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. The two were brought along with Thomas Meunier, Timothy Castagne, Arthur Theate, Zeno Debast, and Wout Faes. The last three names are young players.
Vertonghen’s experience with 141 caps and Alderweireld with 123 caps can calm the Belgian back line. They can be an example for young players, especially Debast who is only 19 years old.
Midfielder
Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco, Youri Tielemans, Leander Dendoncker, Hans Vanaken, Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere and Amadou Onana are the nine midfielders that Martinez brought in the Belgium squad.
In this area De Bruyne will be Belgium’s key player in bringing creativity to play, accompanied by other experienced players such as Witsel and Carrasco. De Ketelaere and Onana can be a surprise as they are only 21 years old.
Attacker
In this area Martinez includes Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Romelu Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi, Thorgan Hazard, Jeremy Doku and Lois Openda. Lukaku isn’t fully fit due to injury but the facts don’t lie, he’s the best striker Belgium has.
Hazard’s condition was not in the best form with Real Madrid, but it was challenging for Martinez to exclude the two experienced and quality players he had.