FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

It wasn’t pretty, but who cares. Belgium booked a ticket to their fifth consecutive World Cup finals by scraping through against the Republic of Ireland in the play-off stages. Georges Leekens’ ageing but talented side overcame the jitters when beating the men in green 2-1 at a rain-lashed King Baudoin stadium in November, thanks in the main to a virtuoso display by Luc Nilis. The PSV Eindhoven striker put two past Ireland. At the peak of his form he will prove a great boon to Leekens in France. Appointed in place of the sacked Wilfried Van Moer last year, Leekens cuts a charismatic figure on the managerial stage, playing cat and mouse with the Irish in the run up to the first play-off match in Dublin.

Eccentric he may be, but the former Brugge defender is an achiever too. “My first task,” he said after assuming control, “was to create a new positive mentality within the squad. There seemed to be little motivation, the atmosphere was depressing. I’m glad to say that’s no longer the case. We’ve rediscovered our hunger.” Apart from Nilis, Belgium have many fine players, notably the greased lightning striker Luis Oliveira, the left side danger man Nico Van Kerckhoven, and Enzo Scifo, who is heading for his fourth finals. Oliveira is Brazilian-born but fell in love with Belgium after signing for Anderlecht in 1985. He scored on his international debut against Tunisia in 1992 and now stars at Fiorentina. The Belgians must have raised their collective eyes skywards when Holland emerged as one of their first-round foes for the second finals in a row.

When the arch-rivals met in the searing sun of Orlando, a late goal sealed a 1-0 win, but the Dutch exacted revenge, slotting six goals past their neighbours in the qualifying stages this time around.