The World Cup 2014 in Brazil saw Belgium entered their so called ‘Golden
Generation’ to compete in the competition. But actually Belgium has had a
Golden Generation before this. Their very first Golden Generation was the team
setup during the 1980-1990. That team achieved a very respectable runner-up
placing in the EURO 1980 in which they lost to Germany in the final. Here The
Writer offers his knowledge on the new Golden Generation of Belgium football,
in which most of the personnel referred to that tag will be briefly looked
into.
Goalkeepers:
Simon Mignolet (Age: 26 | Club: Liverpool)
Descriptions:
He is an excellent shot-stopper of the ball and is very good in saving
penalties too. His reflexes are one of a kind. One of the great goalkeepers in
EPL since his days at Sunderland. However, he is still the second choice in
this Belgium squad as far as The Writer is concerned.
Thibaut Courtois (Age: 22 | Club: Chelsea)
Descriptions:
The younger goalkeeper in the squad but is arguably the better of it.
Courtois is a world-class goalkeeper even at this very young age. Some says
that goalkeeper’s best year is within his 30s, but Courtois is already a very
matured in his game. He is very tall and lanky, but has a very good reflexes
and positioning. He develops really well at Atletico Madrid for the last four
years where he helped them win some of the Spanish and European major
competitions. Now he is ready to be the best in EPL at Chelsea.
Defenders:
Toby Alderweireld (Age: 25
| Club: Southampton)
Descriptions:
Alderweireld is one of the Belgian’s products of the Ajax Academy. He is
a very good central defender and can also plays at right back. He moved to
Atletico Madrid from Ajax to search for silverware but he rarely got the chance
to play. Now he is on loan at Southampton to replace the departed Dejan Lovren
at centre back. He will be a big hit at EPL, but not just for his enormous
amount of tattoos.
Jan Vertonghen (Age: 27
| Club: Tottenham Hotspur)
Descriptions:
Another Belgian product of the Ajax Academy. Vertonghen was made captain
at Ajax when Luis Suarez left Ajax for Liverpool. That shows how much influence
he has at the back. Vertonghen actually started his career as a midfielder but
now he plays as a centre back and can also operates at left back. He has a powerful
shooting ability and admirable scoring appetite although he is a defender by
nature. He often takes free-kicks for Spurs. If bigger clubs offer big transfer
money to Spurs, he will be moving. For sure.
Thomas Vermaelen (Age: 28
| Club: Barcelona)
Descriptions:
Yet another Belgian product of the Ajax Academy. Vermaelen was also made
the captain of Ajax once upon a time when Klaas Jan Huntelaar left Ajax. When
he was at Arsenal, he was also made as captain after the departure of Robin van
Persie to Manchester United. Vermaelen is very much like Vertonghen in which he
also plays in centre back and can also be a left back. He also has a powerful
shooting ability and has almost the same scoring appetite like Vertonghen. He
moves to Barcelona after his chance at Arsenal was restricted but yet to make
his debut there because of injury. His proneness to injury is the only weakness
that restricts Vermaelen from being a world beater until now. He was the
Belgium captain, but after a long lay-off injury he was replaced by Vincent
Kompany.
Vincent Kompany (Age: 28
| Club: Manchester City)
Descriptions:
This is the best defender in this Belgium Golden Generation. He is the
ultimate leader too as he is the current captain of Belgium and his club,
Manchester City. If readers have a chance to watch him giving interview to the
media, readers can feel straight away the leadership and the composure
attributes that he has. Although he moved to Manchester City from Hamburg at a
very low price compared to the other City’s superstars, Kompany is very much
the backbone of the club’s strength alongside Yaya Toure. He is a world class
centre back as City will not be as strong as usual when he is not playing or
when he is out injured.
Anthony Vanden Borre (Age: 26
| Club: Anderlecht)
Descriptions:
Vanden Borre was the Belgium wonderkid once upon a time alongside
Kompany. In fact he was the better bet to be a great player in the future at
that time. But his persistent injuries, lack of consistency, and bad boy
attitude, hinder his progress to be a world class defender. He often changed
clubs as the result of that but now he is finally settled at Anderlecht. A
vital component at right back for Belgium.
Midfielders:
Eden Hazard (Age: 23 | Club: Chelsea)
Descriptions:
If Kompany is the ultimate leader of this Belgium Golden Generation,
Hazard is the ultimate superstar of this team. Hazard is a superb attacking
midfielder where he often plays on the left flank. He has a dream to be a world
best player like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he needs to be more
consistent and the only way to that is to score a lot of goals. That is his
only weak point, other than that he is a truly gifted magician with the ball.
Marouane Fellaini (Age: 26
| Club: Manchester United)
Descriptions:
Fellaini is a world renowned player because of his wonderful afro hair.
But he is a good footballer too. His time at Everton was the best highlight of
his career so far. At Everton, he scored goals and was very dangerous in the
attack from midfield. Although he is very tall (at 1.94m), he is more suitable
as an attacking midfield centre rather than as a defensive midfield. He got a
nose for goals and is always at the right place and at the right time to score.
He is now at a bigger club which is Manchester United but still yet to prove
his quality there. Anyway he is still an undisputed asset for Belgium.
Axel Witsel (Age: 25
| Club: Zenit St Petersburg)
Descriptions:
Many football fans get confused when both Fellaini and Witsel are on the
same pitch in Belgium colour. That’s because Witsel also has an afro styled of
hair. Witsel is more of a right midfielder and he is quicker than Fellaini.
Many clubs were interested in signing Witsel when he was a hot property at
Benfica, but he chose Zenit to further his burgeoning football career.
Mousa Dembele (Age: 27
| Club: Tottenham Hotspur)
Descriptions:
Dembele is a very strong midfielder and is very good at dribbling the
ball past defenders. One of his trademarks is running with the ball at the
centre of the field. He showed his class during his time at Fulham and then Spurs
signed him. He is a good addition to the already well-stocked midfielders in
the Belgium squad.
Kevin De Bruyne (Age: 23
| Club: Wolfsburg)
Descriptions:
Kevin is a talented youngster but he was deemed surplus to the
requirement at Chelsea as Jose Mourinho loves hardworking players. But Kevin
can be that if given time and the right guidance. He is stable now at his new
club and was one of the first teamers in the Belgium squad at the Brazil World
Cup 2014. Another exciting midfielders.
Steven Defour (Age: 26
| Club: Anderlecht)
Descriptions:
Fans who play the Football Manager game will surely know this guy. He is
one of the players tipped to be great since a young age. His style of play is
combative but he also has an eye for scoring. He helped Porto won many league titles
and gave decent showings in the Champions League games. Now he is back in the
Belgium league.
Radja Nainggolan (Age: 26
| Club: AS Roma)
Descriptions:
Nainggolan is half Indonesian as his late mom was from Indonesia. He
spent most of his career in the Italian Serie A, playing for Cagliari but now
is on loan at AS Roma. It was a surprise why that was a loan move because there
were many big clubs chasing for his signature before this. Anyway, AS Roma is
the beneficiary now as Nainggolan is certainly worth for inclusion in the first
eleven. He is very strong, very aggressive, and very hard in his tackles. His
angry looking face is an asset for his club in any matches to unsettle opponents.
A great defensive midfielder for the Belgium squad.
Nacer Chadli (Age: 25
| Club: Tottenham Hotspur)
Descriptions:
Another Belgian at Spurs. Actually Chadli played for Morocco once but
then switch his nationality to Belgian as it was still allowed since the match
was just a friendly. Morocco must be left fuming as Chadli’s talent can improve
any teams in the world. He already scored 2 goals from the wing for Spurs this
new season and will be more exciting under new manager, Mauricio Pochettino.
Dries Mertens (Age: 27
| Club: Napoli)
Descriptions:
A small winger but has a hell of a speed. His fame started since his
days at PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league. Napoli signed him as the first
player to arrive in the Rafa Benitez’s new era. He is competing with Kevin De
Bruyne for a spot in the wing position in the Belgium squad.
Adnan Januzaj (Age: 19
| Club: Manchester United)
Descriptions:
Manchester United signed this prodigious talent at the tender age of 16
from Anderlecht. He was a revelation under David Moyes last season. This season
he is given the legendary number 11 jersey worn by the famous Ryan Giggs. That
shows how much faith United have in him and how much important he will be for
the club and the Belgium national squad in the future. Although initially
Januzaj was having a tough decision to chose his nationality as he has many
family heritages, his confirmation on choosing Belgium is a bless for this
Golden Generation.
Strikers:
Romelu Lukaku (Age: 21
| Club: Everton)
Descriptions:
He is just only 21, but his ability is world renowned. He signed for
Chelsea and was billed as the ‘Baby Drogba’, but it turned out to be a sour
experience for him. Roberto Martinez broke Everton’s transfer record in order
to sign Lukaku at 28 million as Martinez believes Lukaku will be a superstar
and it was such a big statement of intent from Everton. He is big and fast,
just like Didier Drogba. Most of all, he loves to score goals and creates them
for teammates.
Christian Benteke (Age: 23
| Club: Aston Villa)
Descriptions:
Benteke announced himself to the EPL viewers as a big striker who always
loved to score week in week out for Villa. In just less than a year at Villa,
bigger clubs started to show interests in Benteke. But Paul Lambert has managed
to convince Benteke to stay at the Villa Park for a few more years. He is
currently injured and Villa seems to always struggle without him. He is also
important for Belgium too and is competing against Romelu Lukaku for the target
man position.
Kevin Mirallas (Age: 26 | Club: Everton)
Descriptions:
Another player who plies his trade in EPL. Mirallas is an important part
of the Everton team with his direct running and beautiful technique. Prior to
joining Everton, he was the constant performer for Olympiacos in the Champions
League. He has a Spanish and boyish look as his father is Spanish.
Divock Origi (Age: 19 | Club: Lille)
Descriptions:
Origi was supposed to be the backup striker for Belgium in the World Cup
2014 in Brazil, but a down in form for Romelu Lukaku propelled Origi to an early
greatness as he scored crucial goals to help Belgium advance trough the group
stage. He was signed by Liverpool but currently out on loan at Lille. If he
continued the style of play and the scoring habits he had at the World Cup, he
will be a world class player for Liverpool and Belgium in the future.
In all, Belgium has already boasted some of the world class footballers
on the planet and there many more world class to-be players waiting in the
youth system such as Zakaria Bakkali of PSV Eindhoven and Jordan Lukaku FC
Oostende. With this evidence, it will be no surprise if Belgium can win at
least one of the world major competitions in the near future. The quarter final
achievement in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was an excellent start for this
Golden Generation, considering it was their first appearance on the world major
stage after a number of years in the wilderness (not qualified for EURO and
World Cup). Now the task is on Marc Wilmots, the Belgium manager to find the
best tactics for success and to instill a rigorous discipline in this Belgium
Golden Generation as the players must be well taken care of, in their
performance and state of mind. The players are still inexperienced on the international
stage although they have already achieved success at club levels. They need the
right guidance to succeed and who else is more suitable than Marc Wilmots, a
former part of the original Belgium Golden Generation in the late nineties…
