Our boys are in group A. Rest of the group: Croatia Serbia Scotland Macedonia Wales Play dates: September 7th 2012 - Away to Wales September 11th 2012 - Home against Croatia October 12th 2012 - Away to Serbia October 16th 2012 - Home against Scotland March 22nd 2013 - Away to Macedonia March 26th 2013 - Home against Macedonia June 7th 2013 - Home against Serbia September 6th 2013 - Away to Scotland October 11th 2013 - Away to Croatia October 15th 2013 - Home to Wales
To at least get the play-off place, we need to win at home against everyone except perhaps Croatia. And then win away in Wales, Macedonia and perhaps Scotland as well. That would get us to 21 points. Whatever we get home and away to Croatia and away to Serbia would then be gravy.
Hi Belgian guy Wilmots said we are going to play ten "finals" from now. We'll make it this time! p.s. What does your starting lineup look like for the Netherlands friendly?
Only one game before the qualifiers! Thats what worrying me. Also the british isles teams will fight till the end.
Okay with that lineup - and would be interested to how Gillet performs if he starts. Thought he had a decent last outing although partially to blame for England's goal. What do you guys think of this lineup? DembeleFellainiHazard – Witsel – MertensVertonghenPoconogli – Vermaelen – Kompany – AlderweireldMignolet
Fellaini is a defensive midfielder... also Dembele can't score to save his life and you put him upfront? I hope Kevin De Bruyne will get his chance to shine against Holland. I think he could be the missing link. I heard Tchite might finally be eligible to play for Belgium, that would be great news. We are still struggling at the fullback positions though
Actually, Dembelé might be worth an experiment at CF. I know he doesn't pose much of a goal-scoring threat, but Wilmots wants someone who can play with his back to goal and hold up the ball for Hazard. Dembelé might be the best guy in our entire squad at ball retention, and he has the body to play centrally.
Actually, the fact that the quality is so close is to our advantage. It means that one bad result will not torpedo our chances at qualifying.
Vital Borkelmans becomes the assistant manager. Not really happy about this appointment. He adds very little to the technical staff. You'd almost feel he was appointed solely for being Flemish (with Wilmots, Thans and Walem holding the other key positions). They could have done themselves a favor and hired someone more tactically apt as his assistant, think Emilio Ferrera.
Belgium better make it to this freakin tournament this time. My god so much talent and no results. It's really pissing me off lol
Well this is the second time I have seen Mertens out preform Hazard Mertens so far has been better for the National Team than Hazard Hope Eden stayed on the bench after he was substituted, or did he leave the stadium again for another hamburger In any event it was an important moral booster for the players and the fans. We have no more excuses, we look good on paper, but we now have to do it on the field The Croatians will not be easy, no slip ups this time. For Mark Wilmots sake, I pray we escape injuries and we finally preform to our potential Eden Hazard your time has come, get out there and get it done
There is no way Hazard is losing his place, he is revered by the French-speaking media, they will never accept him to be replaced by a kabouter who plays at PSV. Even if he continues to outperform Eden.
I'm liking Wilmots so far. The starting lineup actually made sense: no more Simons, Courtois over Mignolet, Benteke over Lukaku. After the game he was't euphoric and criticized the many defensive errors. Leekens would have declared himself worldchampion after this type of game lol. However calling up Ciman doesn't make any sense whatsoever, also I would prefer Naingolan or even Mudingayi over Simons. Positives from the game: Courtois had a few good saves, I think he is n1 from now on. Defour was excellent keeping Sneijder out of the game, I think he has more discipline at this position than Fellaini. Both Benteke and Lukaku had excellent games. Great performances from Mertens and DeBruyne coming from the bench. Negative: Gillet is a poor option at rightback. We conceded a lot of chances thanks to a poor offside trap. I like how Wilmots actually put an offensive minded player on the midfield but Chadli lacks intelligence and vision on that position. I think De Bruyne should take this place.
I would play like this against Wales: BentekeMertens -----------------–-HazardWitsel – De BruyneDefourVertonghen – Vermaelen – Kompany – OdoiCourtois
I'd put Chadli or Mirallas in the place of either Mertens or Hazard and use one of the little guys as an impact sub. Based on their performances last night, Mertens should start, but I will understand if Wilmots does not have the courage to do that. I do agree that De Bruyne should be the creative guy in midfield, it's really a no-brainer with his terrific passing and his good outside shot.
Wilmots won't likely do it, but I feel like the wingers are a little redundant. I'd like to see a diamond-shaped 4-4-1-1: Courtois Odoi---Kompany---Vermaelen--Vertonghen Fellaini Witsel------Dembele De Bruyne Hazard/Mertens (free role) Benteke/Lukaku/Mirallas Realistically, it'll remain a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1. While Mertens had a blinding 25 minutes, I wouldn't get too excited, his form has run hot and cold for the last year or so (mostly cold). Chadli is a fine player, but there's just something off about his game. Hazard was terrible yesterday, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and chalk that up to his injured leg. I really liked what Wilmots said yesterday after the match; he tempered expectations and pointed out what all of you guys probably saw: mistakes in our backline and man-marking that would be fatal in a meaningful game. Let's be honest, this was a very weak Dutch squad (they'll still qualify for Brazil easily enough, but yesterday they were just poor) so there's no point getting too excited about this result. Oh and can the Belgian fans stop whistling during our opponents' anthems. It's embarrassing and classless.
I don't see how you can give Hazard the benefit of the doubt when he has maybe played three good games for us in 29 tries... Mertens record with the NT is far better, regardless of his club form. I don't expect Wilmots to drop Eden, just because of the implications it would have with the media in the south of the country, but objectively speaking he should not start vs. Wales, unless he totally destroys all comers in the first three weeks of the premier league season.