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Belgium
Pre-Tournament
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Many people's picks as 'dark horses' for this World Cup, Belgium's golden generation has yet to shine at their previous two major tournaments. However, their previous performances at major tournaments didn't dampen expectations coming into this World Cup as the Belgians cruised through a straightforward qualifying group, finishing nine points ahead of their nearest rivals, Greece. As the World Cup began, many wondered if this would finally be their year.
The Story So Far
The group stages were extremely kind to Belgium with matches against Panama and Tunisia helping them guarantee qualification for the next round before a dead-rubber match against England. The Belgians cruised to an opening 3-0 win over Panama and followed that up with a 5-2 thrashing of Tunisia, resting many first-team players for their 1-0 victory over the English to secure top spot in the group with a maximum nine points.
A kind draw awaited them in the round of 16 as they faced a weak Japanese side, the only Asian team to make it beyond the group stages. Many predicted a comfortable win for Belgium, however, shock and disbelief ensued when the Japanese took a quickfire two-goal lead in the second half. An astonishing late comeback from Belgium saw them run out 3-2 winners and proved their credentials as real contenders for this tournament with the team and fighting spirit around the camp at an all-time high.
What's Next
Belgium may regret beating England in their final group game which led to them entering the harder side of the draw. Next up they will face their biggest test in the shape of Brazil in what could be a wonderful game of attacking football. While the Belgians have incredible riches up front, their defense has been suspect throughout the tournament, particularly in their last match against Japan. They will need to shore up the leaks in their defense quickly if they are to knock out the tournament favorites.
