BELGIUM: A GRADUAL BUT DESERVED RISE TO THE TOP
Just 6 years ago, Belgium were ranked 66 in the world according to FIFA but at the latest FIFA ranking, they have been rated as the best team in the world.
Admitted, people may have issues with the way FIFA conducts its rankings but personally after looking through the algorithms, i do not think there us a better way of ranking teams. The question is, how did they acheive it?
Many teams have gotten to the top using different means: Spain, top of the world between 2008 and 2014 bar few months changes built on the superb tiki taka perfected by Barcelona famed academy and carried out perfectly by their coach and players. A system that ocer time ruled from the youth squads to the senior squads. Controlling and dominating games with sleek passing and cool movements until their recent capitulation after the aging of midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez.
Germany, current world champions built on strong technique, pace on the counter and running...they always work tirelessly; hitting their opponents again and again until their opponents have run out of steam. A method that was developed at the base of German football. Hardline coach Felix Magath usually told his players to run up and down a mountain at schakle and mainz respectively and unsurprisingly, the german players adapted quite well. Up until the coming of Pep Guardiola where despite adding tiki taka to their style, their pace is still their strongest weapon.
Then come Belgium. I cannot undoubtedly say they have a strong youth national team but they have grown with the maturity of their young stars.. The belgian league has always encouraged youngstes and anyone that holds till maturity before running away stands a very big chance to make it big in club or national team football.
With a pretty young team of average age 25, A steady outflow of stars in a protected league means they learn the rudiments before moving through it. Many of their stars have established themselves in their various leagues. Infact the premier league can produce a starting 11 with adequate bench for the national team.
They have established themselves well. Thomas Vermaleen(now of barcelona) and Vincent Kompany(captain at manchester city and Belguum) were there first well established stars in the premier league and now partner each other in the heart of the defense.
Other defenders vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are assured starters in a tight tottenham backline, playing mainly as centre back partners for their clubs but having to occupy the wide roles for national team. Alderweireld though was usually played in the full back position at Atletico madrid while Jan also took the full back route while trying to establish himself at tottenham so they have had no problems filling in with the national team.
Marrouane Felliani was a fan favourite at Everton and has stepped up to Manchester United and his gradual rise is proving usefull in the central attacking midfield position usually flanked by PFA player of the year Eden Hazard on the left and Kevin Debruyne on the right
.
Eden Hazards story is not new; a gradual rise to the top at Lille allowed him to develop fully before making the switch to the EPL and guiding chelsea to the league title. Kevin was almost a lost case: snapped up by chelsea early and looked lost in confidence due to the sharp rise in expectations, a spell at wolfsburg helped him establish his groove notching most assist in europe top 5 leagues last season (23) and was rewarded with a move to manchester city where he has not looked back, taking midfield control.
Up top, Romelu Lukaku has developed into a beastly force and looks to have sealed the role. His stints with Westbrom and now Everton proving usefull after loosing confidence at chelsea like KDB. He was actually the top scorer for last year (2014) in england. He faces stiff competition though from Liverpools Benteke and Divock Origi as Benteke has proved over again that he is a capable leader in attack.
At the post, 22 years old Thibaut Courtois has sealed his place. A devastatingly confident keeper, courtois was the main reason atletico came out of games against Barcelona and Real madrid on top. Like lukaku and KDB he failed to make the sharp rise to chelsea but established himself in the relative comfort of atletico madrid. With his injury though, Liverpools, Simon Mignolet ably fills the hole
.
Then there is the central midfield pairing. The only spots not primarily taken by EPL stars (felli partnered witsel at the world cup with radja injured). Zeniths Axel Witsel holds the central midfield supported by the tough Radja Naingollan. Their presence gives desired steel allowing the front players freedom to shine. Both players have been scouted by top EPL clubs: Axel was subject to a rejected bid from chelsea as Zenith needed him to develop more while Radja was on uniteds radar before his unfortunate injury.
Away from this lot there is Boyata(formely of city), Bakkali(PSV hot shot), extremely talented youngsters Januzaj and Thorgan Hazard and Carrasco (atletico) are the future of the team on the wings while tottenhams(again) midfiekders Dembele and Chadli hope to force their way into contention.
The most important factor though is that Belgiums golden generation have been brought together by a young vibrant coach who has mixed sleekness with steel in the right proportion, creating a well knitted unit that have excelled at their game.
This is obvioisly the best belgian team in years and i am sure we have not seen the last of them.
 |
| Belgium: a well knitted unit |
Admitted, people may have issues with the way FIFA conducts its rankings but personally after looking through the algorithms, i do not think there us a better way of ranking teams. The question is, how did they acheive it?
Many teams have gotten to the top using different means: Spain, top of the world between 2008 and 2014 bar few months changes built on the superb tiki taka perfected by Barcelona famed academy and carried out perfectly by their coach and players. A system that ocer time ruled from the youth squads to the senior squads. Controlling and dominating games with sleek passing and cool movements until their recent capitulation after the aging of midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez.
Germany, current world champions built on strong technique, pace on the counter and running...they always work tirelessly; hitting their opponents again and again until their opponents have run out of steam. A method that was developed at the base of German football. Hardline coach Felix Magath usually told his players to run up and down a mountain at schakle and mainz respectively and unsurprisingly, the german players adapted quite well. Up until the coming of Pep Guardiola where despite adding tiki taka to their style, their pace is still their strongest weapon.
Then come Belgium. I cannot undoubtedly say they have a strong youth national team but they have grown with the maturity of their young stars.. The belgian league has always encouraged youngstes and anyone that holds till maturity before running away stands a very big chance to make it big in club or national team football.
With a pretty young team of average age 25, A steady outflow of stars in a protected league means they learn the rudiments before moving through it. Many of their stars have established themselves in their various leagues. Infact the premier league can produce a starting 11 with adequate bench for the national team.
 |
| kompany: captain and leader |
Other defenders vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are assured starters in a tight tottenham backline, playing mainly as centre back partners for their clubs but having to occupy the wide roles for national team. Alderweireld though was usually played in the full back position at Atletico madrid while Jan also took the full back route while trying to establish himself at tottenham so they have had no problems filling in with the national team.
Marrouane Felliani was a fan favourite at Everton and has stepped up to Manchester United and his gradual rise is proving usefull in the central attacking midfield position usually flanked by PFA player of the year Eden Hazard on the left and Kevin Debruyne on the right
.
 |
| The undisputed star...leadibg fron the front |
Up top, Romelu Lukaku has developed into a beastly force and looks to have sealed the role. His stints with Westbrom and now Everton proving usefull after loosing confidence at chelsea like KDB. He was actually the top scorer for last year (2014) in england. He faces stiff competition though from Liverpools Benteke and Divock Origi as Benteke has proved over again that he is a capable leader in attack.
At the post, 22 years old Thibaut Courtois has sealed his place. A devastatingly confident keeper, courtois was the main reason atletico came out of games against Barcelona and Real madrid on top. Like lukaku and KDB he failed to make the sharp rise to chelsea but established himself in the relative comfort of atletico madrid. With his injury though, Liverpools, Simon Mignolet ably fills the hole
.
Then there is the central midfield pairing. The only spots not primarily taken by EPL stars (felli partnered witsel at the world cup with radja injured). Zeniths Axel Witsel holds the central midfield supported by the tough Radja Naingollan. Their presence gives desired steel allowing the front players freedom to shine. Both players have been scouted by top EPL clubs: Axel was subject to a rejected bid from chelsea as Zenith needed him to develop more while Radja was on uniteds radar before his unfortunate injury.
 |
| Januzaj: developing gradually..the future |
The most important factor though is that Belgiums golden generation have been brought together by a young vibrant coach who has mixed sleekness with steel in the right proportion, creating a well knitted unit that have excelled at their game.
This is obvioisly the best belgian team in years and i am sure we have not seen the last of them.
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