buffalo Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 they're extremely efficient probably a gambling Chinese though in the stadium, we always manage to concede against Lux or San Marino Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 actually it's RKC star Aurelien Joachim who scored Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Riccardo Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 This is probably the best Belgium squad I have ever seen. Such a star studded team, the only hinderance I see is the climate and wether or not they play well as a team on the big stage. I just can't go past a South American team to win, but Belgium will make a good run. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Two of those goals from Lukaku were really good. Good for his confidence with the NT. Januzaj impressed me also. Lost the ball twice when he was a bit careless, but for the rest he was really lively and ever-present. Promising debut to say the least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 26, 2014 SI Staff Share Posted May 26, 2014 The 2-1 was very dreadful Lux defending though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 This is probably the best Belgium squad I have ever seen. This is mine Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 They weren't as good as our team today. They had quite a bit of luck in that world cup, we can't deny that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 think as opposed to 1986 we are now more creative and able to dominate whereas the 80s team was more based on counter attack and keeping things tight at the back, with our goalie often being our best player Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicardoW Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 think as opposed to 1986 we are now more creative and able to dominate whereas the 80s team was more based on counter attack and keeping things tight at the back, with our goalie often being our best player Well, that hasn't changed now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Well, that hasn't changed now yeah right, Hazard, Kompany often are our strongholders as was De Bruyne in qualification (especially him actually) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 29, 2014 SI Staff Share Posted May 29, 2014 I'm thinking Courtois may have the highest CA of all Belgian players though... I may be wrong, but that's whay my gut says Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Philip Rolfe Posted May 29, 2014 Administrators Share Posted May 29, 2014 Hazard is 175, Courtois won't be higher. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 29, 2014 SI Staff Share Posted May 29, 2014 OK, Hazard is undoubtedly Belgium's best player! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 as if the ca says it all anyway Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicardoW Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Think Courtois can be the most decisive player, if he remains keeping this brilliant. A good goalie can save your whole tournament. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 depends really, will seem more valuable when under pressure the whole time, and he has a lot to do. Do agree though it's a necessary condition to do well. Having said that France did become world champions with Barthez in goal ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 You need good defense to have a good tournament. I'll say that Courtois will be more influential than Hazard will be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 well, good (central) defense means less need for a good goalie. As in the France example. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Barthez wasn't necessarily a poor goalie. He was a good one back then. Thuram and Blanc made it tight at the back. If your central defenders are too strong to be penetrable, your opponent can resort to shooting from long range. This is when the goalie's hands sometimes can come in handy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorando Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Probable lineup against Sweden: Mignolet; Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vermaelen; Witsel, De Bruyne, Dembelé; Hazard, Mertens, Lukaku. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 A goalie is usually not your most important player. But when you have someone as good as Courtois then yes, he can be the difference. It's no coincidence he has won so many things at Genk and Atlético, two underdogs in their league. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorando Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 A goalie is usually not your most important player. But when you have someone as good as Courtois then yes, he can be the difference.It's no coincidence he has won so many things at Genk and Atlético, two underdogs in their league. A GK is together with the striker position the most decisive in a team. A great keeper can make a world of difference (Casillas 2010, Buffon 2006 for example) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
el sid Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Oliver Kahn 2002 (Except the final ofc) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Barthez wasn't necessarily a poor goalie. He was a good one back then. Thuram and Blanc made it tight at the back.If your central defenders are too strong to be penetrable, your opponent can resort to shooting from long range. This is when the goalie's hands sometimes can come in handy. not saying he was ppoor, underestimated even, but still: a good central pairing means the goalie doesn't need to be as omnipresent in the box at set pieces for example, plus also means less chances for the opponents when good defense and therefore less chance to shine. As for positions: think the central axis is most important, as they also tend to coach the rest of the team, added with creative talent and scoring ability up front. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicardoW Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Was in Antwerp today. Noticed World Cup fever has not really kicked in yet, has it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorando Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 16 days before the first game What did you expect then ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted June 1, 2014 SI Staff Share Posted June 1, 2014 16 days before the first game What did you expect then ? Well, it's starting here... flags, small and large - streets getting decorated - doors and objects Orange - people wearing more Orange. And we're pretty negative about our chances Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorando Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Well, it's starting here... flags, small and large - streets getting decorated - doors and objects Orange - people wearing more Orange.And we're pretty negative about our chances yep and we think you look like idiots Belgium is not a very sports minded country anyway Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted June 1, 2014 SI Staff Share Posted June 1, 2014 yep and we think you look like idiots I don't blame you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbert_o154 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Yeah, come World Cup time, we don't do 'taste' and 'restraint' very well, so we're slightly surprised by countries that do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 problem is, being the country we are, there's no such thing as uniformity really as opposed to the Orange legion. Then again I do see loads of stuff in shops that is tricolore, or inspired as such. Also stuff to decorate houses, windows, and face-paint, Fellaini wigs and the like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReggaeBwoy Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Lukaku again [video=youtube;naQaRjuRFSQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naQaRjuRFSQ&feature=player_embedded Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegr8anand Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 He defo should play for us next season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Again a typical Lukaku match. Good goal, pretty useless for the rest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReggaeBwoy Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 [video=youtube;8y1Ya5tCAPU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y1Ya5tCAPU&feature=player_embedded#t=22 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorando Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Apparently we have never lost a match with Courtois in goal. (16 caps) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilSaint Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Still mystified by Lukaku honestly. He can't control a ball to save his life, can't pass.. All he can do is run like a madman & score. Good for us that he's finding the net so easily at the moment. Wonder if he wouldn't work better in a 442 system. Wish he could take some lessons from Dembele when it comes to holding onto a ball Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Yeah I find him a very frustrating player to watch, but he scored a couple great goals these past two matches so as long as he does that it's fine by me. As you said, his passing is average (though I think it's at an acceptable level), his first touch is mostly very poor (look at his goal vs Sweden, he almost ruined the chance again with a poor control. Got it under control right after, but his first touch was poor again), he looks like the most lazy player ever, standing still, walking, constantly wandering offside. And then occasionally he pulls something great out of his hat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegr8anand Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Thats not good to hear. I did saw him do that in a game for Everton and was hoping it would have changed. I think it was exactly the reason why he was loaned out. But when you see him scoring regularly you don't see that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilSaint Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 tbf people keep going on about his hattrick against Luxembourg.. But first of all that was 'just' Luxembourg and secondly 2 of those goals weren't all that.. one was a lucky volley that any decent keeper should've saved, the other was a one on one.. you'd expect him to finish that. His third goal was a fine effort though. He really is frustrating to watch like Ruben said. He can annoy the hell out of you for 85 minutes but then still find the net. Which is fine by me honestly. I suppose it's a bit of a luxury problem we're having atm. I'm optimistic about Origi though, he's giving me a much better impression on the ball Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 tbh didn't see the whole game yesterday, bits and pieces, but did get the impression Lukaku has significantly improved and was doing much better than say a year or so ago. He has improved and I do reckon this could become his tournament, however it can make or break him at the national team as well as if he loses out it'll be Benteke this and that and if Origi grabs his chance ... and Batshuayi in the pipeline as well ... If all goes well though he could be on for a long run, and let's not forget that's what Benteke did initially as well, took his chance, was still a rough diamond and doubted by "experts"/fans/media but look now what people see him as being an important missing link potentially at the WC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Thats not good to hear. I did saw him do that in a game for Everton and was hoping it would have changed. I think it was exactly the reason why he was loaned out. But when you see him scoring regularly you don't see that. It's why I don't think he'll ever be a good striker for a club like Chelsea. And also why I don't think Mourinho believes in him as a number 1 striker. He's definitely better than a couple of years ago, but I still find him hugely frustrating. I'd make a highlight reel of him against Sweden or Luxembourg, but I'm far too lazy for that. You'd instantly see what we're talking about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 tbh didn't see the whole game yesterday, bits and pieces, but did get the impression Lukaku has significantly improved and was doing much better than say a year or so ago. He has improved and I do reckon this could become his tournament, however it can make or break him at the national team as well as if he loses out it'll be Benteke this and that and if Origi grabs his chance ... and Batshuayi in the pipeline as well ... If all goes well though he could be on for a long run, and let's not forget that's what Benteke did initially as well, took his chance, was still a rough diamond and doubted by "experts"/fans/media but look now what people see him as being an important missing link potentially at the WC. What you have with Benteke is combination play. He's probably a worse finisher than Lukaku, but he can do one-two's with Hazard etc, something Lukaku really can't. Last night it was painfully obvious whenever Hazard tried to set up a one-two with him, he never got the ball back. And near the end when it was De Bruyne who combined with him, he got it back exactly where he wanted it and scored a good goal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 doesn't that prove though link-up with De Bruyne is preferred rather than with say Lukaku? Not all players are great at everything, not all players are Cristiano Ronaldos who can link up play, dribble, create chances and score loads, also from set pieces. Need to play by the abilities of each player and tbh I do feel Lukaku can be very efficient for us, but obviously in another way than Benteke would for example. Thing is maybe it's also partly a trainable thing, as in the national team they were more used to play with Benteke? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilSaint Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Nah, it's a Lukaku thing. His weaknesses have always been the same: first touch, passing, ball control etc. They've gotten slightly better, but are still there. The problem is he has this immense physique so you automatically think he's the target man type when really he isn't. His style of play doesn't really match the style our NT plays. But fortunately for us he's scoring for fun at the moment. The only worry in my mind is he's strictly contributing goals (agreed, that is still the most important thing in football). But what's going to happen in a game when he doesn't score for one or more game(s)? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I think he only had that one shot against Sweden as well. As long as he's feared by opponents he can still serve a function when not scoring, but I do think against Algeria for example he'll struggle against their inevitable defensive approach. There's not going to be space to run into. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilSaint Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 btw, how far does everyone think we'll get? I'm thinking quarter finals. Finishing top of our group, facing Portugal & then losing against Argentina Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubenJ Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 It'll be tough after the group stage but you never know. I'd also put my money on quarter finals. Even if we face Germany I still give us a chance of winning. And there are always upsets possible in other groups. We might end up playing Switzerland in the quarter final... And then we might even get to the semis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilSaint Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Correct me if I'm wrong but for us to face Switzerland they would have to finish second in their group & Bosnia have to win theirs (above Argentina) ? That would be some upset in both those groups but anything is possible ofcourse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorando Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 From what I've seen lately we dont even get out of the group stage Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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