Don't see what Russia have that mean they are any better. Belgium all the way to the top of their group.
Experience at major tournaments and all of their players are home based, quite a few playing for the same domestic side.
I agree that Belgium have a talented pool of players, but so did we in 2006.
We'll see how they get on, but not sure i agree with the hype.
They England Squad who went to Germany in 2006 would IMO lose to the Belgium squad going to Brazil
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, on loan from Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Sammy Bossut (Zulte Waregem).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atlético Madrid), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Nacer Chadli (Tottenham), Steven Defour (Porto), Moussa Dembélé (Tottenham), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Zenit).
Forwards: Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Lille)
Really?
They don't have natural full backs, Vertongen plays LB and Alderweireld plays RB but both are natural centre backs.
The midfield is ok, although Chadli/Dembele have been very average for Spurs, with Fellaini having a real stinker for Utd.
Mirallas and Lukaku are decent although playing for a team that has had no Continental experience, which would have helped coming into a major international tournament.
They are very strong centre of defence and have good wide players going forward, and their goalkeeper has had a very good season but as i said, its inexperienced on the major international stage. Who knows, that might be a good thing and they play without fear, but to me i think they are being overhyped and the Euros will be a better chance of success.
2006, England had Neville, Cole, Gerrard, Terry, Ferdinand, Beckham, Lampard, Rooney, Owen, Hargreaves. The most talented group of players we've had but once again a penalty shoot-out done us.
actually belgium has only 2 forwards in the selection: lukaku and origi. all the others that are listed as forwards are wingers/attacking midfielders, and can play in various midfield positions. Midfield is by far our strongets deparment, we have PLENTY of options there and even had to leaveout one of the better midfielders in serie A from the last season (nainggolan); it's annoying how much good players we have there.
alderweireld and verthonghen are both formed at ajax, so they are comfortable on the ball, alderweireld played mostly as left back at atletico madrid this season; vertonghen has played right back as well some time at ajax and tottenham, so they are not uncomfortable in that position.
belgium will plays 4-5-1 when not controlling the game, when in controm they will move forwards from all sides whith many postion switches. lukaku will play upfront on his own IF he is fit to start (he was subbed against tunisia when he suffered a kick, but looks tp be ok) he's seems to be in real good form judging the last friendlies for belgium.
and btw chadli-dembele-felaini and mirallas will not be in starting line up for belgium, only dembele and maybe mirallas might be in the starting line up. Chadli might be is something happens to mertens or debruyne , felaini, does not start for belgium anymore (he did when he was at standard liege and everton, but since he had a bad season at Man united he doesn't start anymore).
Witsel is by far our best central midfielder.
starting line up for belgium will be probably ----------------courtois*----------------- alderweireld-van buyten-kompany *- vertonghen ---------witsel*-(defour or dembele)--------- --------------de bruyne* ------------------ -mertens------------------------hazard*---- --------------lukaku*---------------------
* 99,9% garantueed starter dembele probably against weaker opponents defour against stringer opponents
i expect belgium cruising through the group stages, i expect them to get 7or 9 points, after that it will come down to luck (germany or portugal in round of 16, if belgium proceed it will be probably argentina in the quarters...)
Well you know a lot more about Belgium than me Byl!!!
I still think no players with international tournament experience might be your downfall, along with a difficult round of 16 game. Euro 2016 will be your time.
£30 on Argentina to win it 4/1 £20 on Spain to win it 5/1 £20 on Messi Golden Boot 7/1 £5 Spain, France, Argentina, Germany & Belgium to win their groups 9/1 £5 on Spain to win it & Costa top scorer 66/1
worth a punt 1965 -1966 athletico won la liga madrid won europe cup man city won there legue palace finushed 11th fulham got relegated F A C score 3-2 with winner coming from 2 down ENGLAND WON WORLD CUP
I've bought Bosnia , Russia and Japan on the group index . Bought Brazil and sold Holland on the outright index . Some other complicated world cup hamper index i've sold .
Will probably do some more tomorrow on cards , goals , corners
Aguero EW £10 10-1 with Paddy (Free £5 quid bet for every goal) Argentina W £10 4-1 with Paddy (free £5 bet on Game tomorrow) Aguero & Argentina £5 20-1 Ballotelli, Fred, Lukuku, Benzema to top score for there countries £2 85-1 Brazil, France, Spain & Argentina to top there groups £10 3.5-1
For tomorrow I've got Chile -1 handicap, and then an accumulator of Spain and Chile both to win, plus an accumulator of Chile and the Uruguay to win next day v Costa Rica. Feeling good about these.
Comments
I still think no players with international tournament experience might be your downfall, along with a difficult round of 16 game. Euro 2016 will be your time.
£20 on Spain to win it 5/1
£20 on Messi Golden Boot 7/1
£5 Spain, France, Argentina, Germany & Belgium to win their groups 9/1
£5 on Spain to win it & Costa top scorer 66/1
1965 -1966
athletico won la liga
madrid won europe cup
man city won there legue
palace finushed 11th
fulham got relegated
F A C score 3-2 with winner coming from 2 down
ENGLAND WON WORLD CUP
Will probably do some more tomorrow on cards , goals , corners
For some reason my post didn't 'quote' the previous one
Argentina W £10 4-1 with Paddy (free £5 bet on Game tomorrow)
Aguero & Argentina £5 20-1
Ballotelli, Fred, Lukuku, Benzema to top score for there countries £2 85-1
Brazil, France, Spain & Argentina to top there groups £10 3.5-1
person.,I got a few people from work to put on for me as well. Will prob go tits up.