FRANCE 98 – Team Detail
Belgium have qualified for their fifth successive World Cup finals which places them in a rarified group of six countries who have achieved that feat — the others being Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Argentina.
The Belgians best performance in a World Cup finals came in 1986 where they lost 2-0 to Diego Maradonna, which inspired Argentina and then 4-2 to France, after extra-time, in the third place play-off.
On the domestic front, Anderlecht have been far and away the most successful side in European competition, winning two European Cup Winners Cup’s (1976 and ’78), the 1983 UEFA Cup and two European Super Cups (1976 and ’78). Only two other sides apart from Anderlecht have shown any real European pedigree. Standard Liege reached the 1982 Cup Winners Cup final and were European Cup finalists in 1962 and the 1967 Cup Winners Cup semi-final, while Club Brugges reached the 1976 UEFA Cup final and the 1978 European Cup final.
Belgium have produced several players of real world standing most particularly in the 1930’s : Raymond Braine, who played for Beerschot, his striking teammate Rik Coppens and the 50’s player Vicky Mees from Antwerp FC, who for a long time held the record for most caps (67). Former Belgian national coach Paul Van Himst and latterly the enormous but superbly skillful Jan Ceulemans, who now holds the record for caps of 92, are others who have impressed on the world stage. By contrast, Belgium’s record in the European Championships has been unimpressive save appearing in the 1980 final where they lost to Germany in Rome.
The Belgian supporters are now basing all their support on the George Leekens coached “red devils”. Since Leekens, a former Belgian international defender, took over on February 11 1997. Belgium have won five, drawn one and lost just twice. Only two veterans, Franky Van der Elst and Enzo Scifo (due to play in his fourth finals), remain in a team that has rediscovered their unity and motivation.
Several young players such as Gilles De Bilde (PSV Eindhoven), Michael Goossens (Schalke 04) and Philippe Leonard (AS Monaco) will add a bit of youthful zest to the side alongside Scifo, Van der Elst and others like Marc Wilmots (Schalke 04) and Danny Boffin (FC Metz).