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Belgium
When Belgium was drawn to face the Czech Republic in the final European qualifying playoff, not a lot of people expected it to make the finals. But Robert Waseige's side showed the kind of grit needed to win big ties and qualified for the World Cup for the sixth straight time.
The question now is will this team be able to put together a good run in Asia, or will they suffer from the same problems that led to an early elimination at Euro 2000.
As the countdown to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan continues, CNNSI.com's Pedro Pinto will take a close look at all of the nations that will contend for football's greatest prize.
Pinto is an anchor on World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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Belgium is the first nation ever to actually qualify for six consecutive World Cups (discounting hosts and defending champions). That says a lot about the stability of its squad over the last three decades. Again, the Belgians enter the finals with the tag of "outsiders," but again they have the kind of experience needed to make it into the knockout stages.
Built around a strong back line, this side will be hard to break down. Proof of that is the five goals it conceded in the qualifying campaign. The midfield also has the workhorses needed to compensate for the adventurous nature of their wingers. Gert Verheyen and Johan Walem are obstacles other teams need to overtake if they are to test a well-organized back four. In attack there is talent, but many times not enough of a killer instinct. Who can forget all the goals Emile Mpenza missed in a crucial Euro 2000 match against Turkey? Will the talent and instinct of Marc Wilmots be enough to combat the lack of a true center forward?
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Marc Wilmots. How good is this guy? Just ask Inter Milan, the club he nearly singlehandedly destroyed in the 1997 UEFA Cup final while playing for Schalke 04. Although he is now well into his 30s Wilmots can still change the course of a game with a mazy solo run or with a deadly pass to a teammate. He led Belgium in scoring with eight goals in qualifying. Playing right behind the striker, Wilmots is a menace to any defense. |
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Goalscoring. Besides Wilmots, who is going to find the back of the net? Mpenza? He can, but he has yet to prove himself wearing the Belgian outfit. Bob Peeters is a decent option, but he is not really a forward known for his finishing skills. Belgium needs a fit Branko Strupar -- he can be their solution to this problem. Yes, the Belgians did score 25 goals in qualifying, but 21 of them were scored against group punching-bags San Marino and Latvia.
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Goalkeeping.
Geert De Vlieger seems to be the answer for Filip De Wilde. He had a handful of solid saves against the Czech Republic, but this is going to be his first big tournament. He does have the benefit of having an experienced defense in front of him, but he needs to have a solid first game to make his colleagues realize that he will be there for them. De Vleiger is a talented keeper, but the fact that he has not played in big games, even with club Willem II, could hurt him and the team.
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Belgium qualified by beating the Czech Republic in a playoff. It won both legs 1-0. This after finishing in second place in Group 6 of European qualifying, behind Croatia. Belgium played eight games, winning five, drawing two and losing one. They scored 25 goals and conceded five in a group that also included Scotland, Latvia and San Marino. |
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Belgium is making its 11th World Cup appearance. Its best performance is a fourth-place finish in 1986 when it lost to champion Argentina in the semifinals. It has played a total of 32 matches, winning nine, drawing seven and losing 16. It has scored 40 goals and conceded 56.
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I can see Belgium making the last 16, but that might be it. They are a solid and organized unit, but lack a creative midfielder who can take some of the pressure off Wilmots, and a powerful center forward who can frighten opposing defenses. Waseige has been known as a defensive-minded tactician at every club he has managed, as well as the national team. That will not change at the finals. This is a counter-attacking team that will hit you on the break, but many times it cannot turn possession into goals against weaker teams.
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