Categories: 2018 World CupBelgiumCountriesFIFAInternational CompetitionsProst International

World Cup Class of 2018: Belgium

Romelu Lukaku, seen here last season in an exhibition against the Los Angeles Galaxy for his club side Manchester United, will have a tall task in leading Belgium to the top at the 2018 World Cup (photo credit: Debbie von Wincklemann)

Population: 11.4 million

Capital: Brussels

Team Colors: Red

How Qualified: Won UEFA Group H

Nickname: The Red Devils

13th World Cup

Head Coach: Roberto Martinez (ESP)

Key Players: Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Best Performance: Fourth Place (1986)

Can they go further this time? In 2014, Belgium went they furthest they have gone in the World Cup since their semifinal run in 1986. They also got to the quarterfinals at Euro 2016.

They were the first European side outside Russia to qualify for the World Cup which they did at a canter. You see their stars every week in the form of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, and others.

Belgium should be considered one of the favorites to get out of the group stage given their group.

The term “Golden Generation” has been applied to this current Belgian squad. That term can sometimes be a poisoned chalice. However, this team could be deep enough to make a deeper run than any Belgian team before it.

Tunisia and Panama may present little problem to Belgium and it would then be between themselves and England for top spot in the group.

Those who follow the main European leagues will likely have come across one or a few of Belgium’s top players in recent years. The key for them is to come together for a country marked by separation between the Flemish and Walloon regions to establish themselves as a contender to win it all.

Schedule:

June 18: vs. Panama in Sochi, (10am CT on FS1/Telemundo)

June 23: vs. Tunisia in Moscow (Spartak) (7am CT on FOX/Telemundo)

June 28: vs. England in Kaliningrad (1pm CT on FOX/Telemundo)