World Cup Special: The amazing transformation of Belgium

Belgian footballers are starting to dominate the Premier League. The rise of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke is notable. Belgium national team has undergone a radical transformation in the last decade.

The transformation did not happen overnight. When Turkey beat them as qualifiers from the first round group at Euro 2000, the cracks were clearly visible. The Belgian clubs were not able to compete with the other European clubs and the Under – 17 and Under – 23 national team was ranked in the mid 20s. Belgium had to act. They settled on a 3 pronged strategy. Separate plans were made for all the clubs, the national team and the coaches at the school level.

The clubs were asked to play 4-3-3 with wingers and three midfielders and a flat back four. In the old days, it was always a flat back three. The Belgian FA urged five against five games at youth levels, seven against seven for older kids and a delayed introduction to full-size pitches. Youth games were filmed for later evaluation.

All of these steps started to show some fruits after 5-6 years. In 2007, a youth team featuring Eden Hazard and Christian Benteke made the last four of the European Under-17 championships for the first time in Belgium’s history. The next year, a slightly older group featuring Marouane Fellaini and Vincent Kompany had a good Olympics. The Belgium National team was beginning to take shape.

Sixteen of the Belgian National team now play for the big clubs in the Premier League. Belgium National team has also benefited from the huge wave of immigrants. Players like Benteke, Komapany and Fellaini have African blood.

Fast forward 10 years and Belgium is in the top 10 rankings. Although they are not the favorites to win the 2014 World Cup, Belgium is a serious force to be reckoned with.