World Cup 2018: Qualities of a champion

#3 Counter Attacking Style

Nacer Chadli finishes Belgium's 94' counter-attack goal against Japan.

After dominating Group G in the opening rounds, Belgium set the stage for one of the biggest comebacks in World Cup history. Just after half-time of their first elimination game, Japan scored 2 goals to put Belgium on the ropes. Then this Belgium side found another gear. They scored goals in the 69th, 74th, and 94th minutes. The most notable goal being their stoppage-time winner that saw Japan launch a corner kick into the box and Belgium counter attacked the length of the field to slot home a winner just before the referee ended regulation. This moment has defined Belgium for what they do best: counter attack with speed and precision.

The ability to counter-attack and relieve pressure for the defense is one tool that many teams try to utilize but fail because they do not have the quality up front to damage their opponents. Not so with Belgium. When this team counter-attack, the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and Kevin De Bruyne lead the charge. Having just one of these players would be lethal for most teams, but the trio have made an art of their ability to link play when the defense is most vulnerable.

Lukaku's strength and ability to push ahead of defenders makes him a formidable attacker in every scenario. If strength isn't enough, Hazard's pace and shifty play cause defenses to buckle as they fight to avoid fouling in dangerous positions. And if strength and creativity won't cut it, De Bruyne's shots from distance create a deep threat that goalkeepers and defenders must respect. This Belgian side have thrived on the back of these three, and it's no surprise that they battled to a Final Four finish in the 2018 World Cup.