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In a week's time, the 2018 World Cup will kick off. The squads of each country were finalized on 4th June. Belgium has been drawn into a relatively manageable and straightforward group. Together with European counterparts, England, the two countries are expected to advance into the next stage of the competition.
Roberto Martinez chose to drop Christian Benteke from the final 23-man squad. The striker was a surprise omission alongside Radja Nainggolan. The Roma midfielder immediately announced his international retirement after finding out that he was not included in the squad. Even without some of the senior players, Martinez's side continues to look pretty strong.
Between the posts, there is Thibaut Courtois. In the midfield, there is the creative mastermind, Kevin De Bruyne. Leading the line, there is Romelu Lukaku. There is plenty of talent in this Belgium squad which may make it far in Russia this summer. Here is a look at five players to look out for during the competition.
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#5 Thibaut Courtois
The Chelsea man is undisputedly Belgium's first choice goalkeeper. Since making his debut in 2011, Courtois has managed 57 international appearances. Most recently, he kept a clean sheet during an international friendly against Egypt. In his seven years of representing Belgium, Courtois has kept 29 clean sheets and conceded just 42 goals. He is certainly one of the toughest keepers to get past and a serious contender for the Golden Glove award.
Standing at 1.99m, he is extremely calm when dealing with set pieces. His height gives him an added advantage in being able to claim the ball from a high position and reach out for the ball as quickly as possible. The goalkeeper is also quick on his feet and distributes the ball accurately to his team-mates. According to Squawka, Courtois has an average distribution success of 75% and a claim success of 90%.
When compared to Simon Mignolet, who has struggled for game time this season, Courtois is the preferred option. The Liverpool goalkeeper has always played second fiddle and only made 21 international appearances. The third keeper who is also traveling to Russia is Koen Casteels, the youngest of the trio. He has the least international experience and has not made a senior international appearance for his country. Casteels is most likely just going to serve as a backup to Courtois and Mignolet. The keeper to look out for in the competition is certainly Courtois, whose Chelsea's future remains uncertain.
#4 Jan Vertonghen
Vertonghen played almost every single Premier League match for Tottenham this season and is one of the most experienced center-backs to be playing in England. With more than 100 appearances on the international stage, this will be his second stint in the World Cup and possibly his last one as well.
The 31-year-old is strong in his tackles and dribbles. He is always alert and hardly makes any mistakes in games. In the Premier League, he won 60% of the duels he took part in, made 196 clearances, and was in incredible form.
His presence in the starting eleven will bring added assurance and confidence to the whole team. With the Belgian team clearly attacking-minded, Vertonghen's experience will be invaluable when facing counter-attacks from his opponents. His performance in Russia will certainly be one to look out for.
#3 Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne finished the Premier League season with the highest number of assists. Martinez will surely be assigning De Bruyne the huge task of creating chances for the rest of his team-mates and his team will be dependent on his creativity.
Known for his passing accuracy, crossing, and ability to take set-pieces, the Manchester City midfielder is an all-round talent. He can play across various positions as an attacking midfielder but is most commonly deployed in the center of the pitch. In 61 appearances for his nation, De Bruyne has scored 14 times and racked up 26 assists. He is absolutely one of the best midfielders in Europe and the world.
In the second World Cup of his career, the Belgian will surely seize the chance to further impress and guide his country through the competition.
#2 Eden Hazard
The captain of the national team is one of the most experienced on his side. Having 85 caps to his name, Hazard has scored 22 times and provided 23 assists. Although he had a mediocre season for Chelsea this season, the midfielder remains one of the most reliable and regular players of Belgium.
With Martinez aiming to play attacking football in the competition, tactically strong and sharp midfielders like Hazard will allow the manager's game plan to go smoothly. As shown in the friendly match against Egypt, Belgium are not afraid of going all out attack. Hazard is capable of dictating the play from his position as a winger or central midfielder. With his accurate passing and good vision of the game, he is able to create as many chances as De Bruyne. The duo can form a deadly partnership in the heart of the midfield and exert lots of pressure on their opponents.
The 27-year-old is expected to play a huge role in Belgium's World Cup journey.
#1 Romelu Lukaku
The 25-year-old Manchester United striker is definitely one of the most prolific strikers in the competition. Lukaku made his debut at the age of 16 and has gone on to score 34 goals for his nation in 68 appearances. It will be his second time playing in the World Cup. In the 2014 edition, he made four appearances and scored just once. With Benteke not in the squad, the team will be reliant on Lukaku to score some goals in the competition.
The forward is particularly strong in finishing, dribbling, and heading. His presence in the box will create plenty of problems for the defenders. In the Premier League, many clubs struggled to contain his powerful runs and presence in the box.
In late May, Lukaku complained that the Belgium fans do not show enough appreciation for his efforts. This summer is the time for him to prove his worth to the fans of the Red Devils.
Who do you think is Belgium's most dangerous player? Have your say in the comments.
