Belgium naitional fitbaw team

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 Belgium
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Rode Duivels
Diables Rouges
Rote Teufel
(Red Devils)
AssociationBelgian Football Association
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Heid coachRoberto Martínez
CaiptainEden Hazard
FIFA codeBEL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA rankin
Current 5 Steady (20 Julie 2023)[1]
Heichest1 (November 2015 – Mairch 2016, September 2018 – present[1])
Lawest71 (June 2007)
Elo rankin
Current 8 Decrease 4 (17 Julie 2023)[2]
Heichest1 (16 November 2019 - 11 October 2020, 27 Juin 2021 - 2 July 2021, 10 July 2021 - 7 october 2021)
Lawest74 (September 2009)
European Championship
Appearances6
Best resultRunners-Up, 1980

The Belgium naitional fitbaw team (Dutch: Het Belgische voetbalelftal, Dutch pronunciation: [əd ˈbɛɫ.ʝi.sə ˈvud.bɑɫ.ˌɛɫ(ə)f.tɑɫ]); (French: L'équipe de Belgique de football); (German: Die Belgische Fußballnationalmannschaft); represents Belgium in association fitbaw an is controllit bi the Ryal Belgian Fitbaw Association, the governin bodie fir fitbaw in Belgium. Belgium's hame groond is King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Roberto Martínez is thair naitional manager. Thay are cawed the Reid Deeils (Dutch: Rode Duivels, Dutch pronunciation: [ˈroː.də ˈdœy̯.vəɫs]); (French: Diables Rouges); (German: Rote Teufel).

Historie[eedit | eedit soorce]

Belgium playt its feerst offeecial gem on 1 Mey 1904, in a 3–3 draw versus France national football team. Afore this gem, a Belgian selection playt severl matches, but the squad haed some Inglis players on it, sae thir irnae addit tae the caps. Fir exampil, Belgium beat the Netherlands naitional fitbae team bi 8–0 on 28 Aprile 1901 wae the help o some Inglismen. It wis then decidit that Belgium wid play twa times a year against Netherlands beginnin frae 1905, generally wance in Antwerp an ance in Rotterdam (later Amsterdam). At that time, the naitional squad wis chosen bi a committee o representatives o the 6 or 7 main squads.

The team wis nicknamit The Red Deeils bi jurnalist Pierre Walckiers efter its 3:2 victorie ower Netherlands (Rotterdam, 1906). The nickname stems frae the fact that fae the beginnin an up tae recently, the team's ane colours wir aw reid.

Ower the foalowin sax decades, Belgium establishit itsel as a strang seecond-tier team, nae eften in the runnin fir winnin a major tournament but ne'er easy tae han'l at hame or abroad. A key strengt a the team wis its systematit uiss o the offside trap, a defensive tactic developit in the 1960s at Anderlecht unner French coach Pierre Sinibaldi.

Thair maist successfu period stairtit when thay feenishit seecond in the UEFA Euro 1980. The 1980s an early 1990s ir generally considerit tae be the golden age o the national squad. Unner the lead o Guy Thys, who coachtt mair nor 100 officeel gems, Belgium establisht a reput o bein a physical, weel-organizit team that wis difficult tae play. The team's stere organisation wis reinforcit bi severl wurld-cless players sic as goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, right-back Eric Gerets, midfielder Jan Ceulemans, playmaker Enzo Scifo an striker Luc Nilis.

Efter failing tae qualify fir the FIFA World Cup fir the feerst time syne 1978, the contract o national coach Aimé Anthuenis wisnae renewt beyond 2005, an it wis decidit on December 22, 2005 that René Vandereycken wid replace Anthuenis on Januar 1, 2006. The perfoarmances a the team didnae improve an Belgium slipped tae an aw-time law 71st poseetion in the FIFA Wurld Rankings in Juin 2007. Efter no qualifyin fir Euro 2008 an a generally pair performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which ondit wae Belgium getin knocked oot, coach René Vandereycken wis sacked on the 7 Apryle 2009. Efter a 2–1 loss against Armenie on 9 September 2009, Vercauteren resignt an made wey fir new coach Dick Advocaat. Howe'er, on 15 Apryle 2010, Efter ony sixs months at the helm, Advocaat resignt as manager a the Belgian national team wae speculation that he wis tae acome coach a the Roushie national team. Georges Leekens wis annoonct as the next manager a the Belgian national team on 11 Mey 2010, signin a contract til 2012. Thees is Leekens' seecond stint as national manager, haen previously managit the Reid Deeils fae 1997 tae 1999.

Competitive record[eedit | eedit soorce]

World Cup[eedit | eedit soorce]

Belgium qualified fir sax successit Wurld Cups fae 1982 throu 2002. The Belgian team reachit the knockoot phase fev oot a sax times fae 1982 tae 2002, includin a streak o fower tournaments. wan a thair maist weel-kent victories wis a 1–0 win ower defendin champions Argentina, in the feerst gem a the 1982 World Cup held at Camp Nou wae a goal bi Erwin Vandenbergh.

Fower years efter thay achievitt thair best-ever Wurld Cup run in 1986 when thay placit fowrth unner command a players the lik o Jan Ceulemans, Eric Gerets an Jean-Marie Pfaff. Belgium won against favourites Soviet Union wae stamagast wae stars sic as Igor Belanov an Rinat Dasayev (3–4) efter extra time. Belgium beat Spain on penalties an aa, but thay loast tae eventual champions Argentina in the semifinal (0–2). In the third-place match Belgium loast tae France (2–4) efter extra time. Captain an midfielder Jan Ceulemans wis the feerst Belgian player tae be selectit in the Aw-Star Team o a World Cup. Enzo Scifo wis electit as best young player a the tournament.

In the 1990 World Cup, Belgium did weel agaunst Ingland, but eventually loast in the last meenut o extra time efter a goal bi David Platt. Enzo Scifo wis electit as seecond best player o the 1990 World Cup efter Lothar Matthäus.

In the 1994 Wurld Cup Belgium loast tae title defenders Germany in roond 2. Michel Preud'homme wis electit as best goalkeeper a the tournament an wis selectit in the Aw-Star Team.

In 1998 Belgium wis wan a anly twa squads, tigether wae wurld champion France no tae lose a singl gem. Three draws in the feerst roond – agaunst Netherlands, Mexico an South Korea – proovt no eneuch tae reach the knockoot stage. In 1998 Enzo Scifo an Franky Van Der Elst appearit in thair fowrth Wurld Cups, settin a Belgian record.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup didnae stairt weel fir Belgium, but the team improvt durin the toornament. Captain Marc Wilmots wis notable fir scorin in ev'ry matcha the feerst roond. In the seecond roond thay haed tae play agaunst eventual champions Brazil. Tae the connflumix a the Brazilians themsel, referee Peter Prendergast disallowt a goal bi Marc Wilmots that wid hae gien Belgium a 1–0 lead. Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari declarit efter the tournament that the match agaunst the Reid Deeils haed been the hardest wan fir Brazil tae win. The team did win the toornament's fair-play awaird. Marc Wilmots equallt the record a Enzo Scifo an Franky Van Der Elst bi appearin in 4 Wurld Cup squads, althou he didnae play in his feerst Wurld Cup in 1990. Wilmots scored his 5t World Cup goal agaunst Roushie an aa, which made him Belgium's tap scorer in Wurld Cup Finals matches.

Year Roond GP W D* L GS GA
Uruguay 1930 1st Roond 2 0 0 2 0 4
Italy 1934 1st Roond 1 0 0 1 2 5
Fraunce 1938 1st Roond 1 0 0 1 1 3
Brazil 1950 Withdrew
Switzerland 1954 1st Roond 2 0 1 1 5 8
Swaden 1958 Did nae qualify
Chile 1962
Ingland 1966
Mexico 1970 1st Roond 3 1 0 2 4 5
Wast Germany 1974 Did nae qualify
Argentinae 1978
Spain 1982 2nt Roond 5 2 1 2 3 5
Mexico 1986 4t place 7 2 2 3 12 15
Italy 1990 2nt Roond 4 2 0 2 6 4
United States 1994 2nt Roond 4 2 0 2 4 4
Fraunce 1998 1st Roond 3 0 3 0 3 3
Sooth Korea Japan 2002 2nt Roond 4 1 2 1 6 7
Germany 2006 Did nae qualify
Sooth Africae 2010 Did nae qualify
Brazil 2014 Quarter final
Roushie 2018 2t place
Tot 13/21 48 20 9 19 68 72

European Championship[eedit | eedit soorce]

Belgium's performance in the European Championship disnae match its Wurld Cup record. The best result is nae doot the unexpectit seecond place at the 1980 edition in Italy efter a nairae loass (1–2) tae Waist Germany in the finaw. Belgium hosted or co-hosted the event twice, feenishin third in 1972 (when thay wir chosen amongst the fower semi-finalists tae host the event) an bein wan a the major disappointments o the 2000 edition wae a feerst-roond exit. Belgium feerst won agaunst Swaden 2–1 via goals frae Bart Goor in the 43rd meenut an Emile Mpenza in the 46th meenut agaunst Swaden's wan bi Johan Mjallby in the 53rd meenut efter a muck;e awfu error a goalkeepr Filip De Wilde. But then, Belgium loast 2–0 agaunst Italy (goals frae Francesco Totti in the 5t meenut an Stefano Fiore in the 66th minute) an 2–0 agaunst Turkey (twa goals frae Hakan Şükür in the 45th efter anither error a goalkeeper Filip De Wilde, an 70th meenut). In the 83rd meenut o that last group gem, Filip De Wilde e'en endit his Euro 2000, bein sent aff fir attackin Arif Erdem ootside the penalty aurie.

UEFA European Championship record
Year Roond Poseetion GP W D* L GS GA
Fraunce 1960 Did nae enter
Spain 1964 Did nae qualify
Italy 1968
Belgium 1972 Third place 3rd 2 1 0 1 3 3
Socialist Federal Republic o Yugoslavie 1976 Did nae qualify
Italy 1980 Runners-up 2nt 4 1 2 1 4 4
Fraunce 1984 Group Stage 6t 3 1 0 2 4 8
Wast Germany 1988 Did nae qualify
Swaden 1992
Ingland 1996
Belgium Netherlands 2000 Group Stage 12t 3 1 0 2 2 5
Portugal 2004 Did nae qualify
Austrick Switzerland 2008
Poland Ukraine 2012
Fraunce 2016 Quarter finals
Europe 2016 Quarter finals
Tot 6/16 22 11 2 9 33 31

Olympic Games[eedit | eedit soorce]

Belgium won the Olympic Gowd Medal in 1920

Note: Fitbaw at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since 1992.

Euro 2012 qualifications[eedit | eedit soorce]

Team
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Germany 10 10 0 0 34 7 +27 30
 Turkey 10 5 2 3 13 11 +2 17
 Belgium 10 4 3 3 21 15 +6 15
 Austrick 10 3 3 4 16 17 −1 12
 Azerbaijan 10 2 1 7 10 26 −16 7
 Kazakhstan 10 1 1 8 6 24 −18 4
  Austrick Azerbaijan Belgium Germany Kazakhstan Turkey
Austrick  3–0 0–2 1–2 2–0 0–0
Azerbaijan  1–4 1–1 1–3 3–2 1–0
Belgium  4–4 4–1 0–1 4–1 1–1
Germany  6–2 6–1 3–1 4–0 3–0
Kazakhstan  0–0 2–1 0–2 0–3 0–3
Turkey  2–0 1–0 3–2 1–3 2–1


2014 FIFA World Cup qualification[eedit | eedit soorce]

Team
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Belgium 10 8 2 0 18 4 +14 26
 Croatie 10 5 2 3 12 9 +3 17
 Serbie 10 4 2 4 18 11 +7 14
 Scotland 10 3 2 5 8 12 −4 11
 Wales 10 3 1 6 9 20 −11 10
 North Macedonie 10 2 1 7 7 16 −9 7
  Belgium Croatie North Macedonie Scotland Serbie Wales
Belgium  1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–1
Croatie  1–2 1–0 0–1 2–0 2–0
North Macedonie  0–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 2–1
Scotland  0–2 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–2
Serbie  0–3 1–1 5–1 2–0 6–1
Wales  0–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 0–3


Current squad[eedit | eedit soorce]

The foalowin players it the squad who wir namit fir the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Serbia an Scotland on 12 an 16 October 2012.

Caps an goals are correct as of October 16, 2012.

# Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Thibaut Courtois (1992-05-11) 11 Mey 1992 (age 31) 7 0 Spain Atlético Madrid
12 1GK Simon Mignolet (1988-08-06) 6 August 1988 (age 35) 10 0 Ingland Sunderland
21 1GK Jean-François Gillet (1979-05-31) 31 Mey 1979 (age 44) 8 0 Italy Torino
24 2DF Guillaume Gillet (1984-03-09) 9 Mairch 1984 (age 39) 18 1 Belgium Anderlecht
3 2DF Thomas Vermaelen (vice-captain) (1985-11-14) 14 November 1985 (age 38) 40 1 Ingland Arsenal
4 2DF Vincent Kompany (captain) (1986-04-10) 10 Aprile 1986 (age 37) 51 3 Ingland Manchester City
5 2DF Jan Vertonghen (1987-04-24) 24 Aprile 1987 (age 36) 43 4 Ingland Tottenham Hotspur
13 2DF Laurent Ciman (1985-08-05) 5 August 1985 (age 38) 8 0 Belgium Standard Liège
16 2DF Daniel Van Buyten (vice-captain) (1978-02-07) 7 Februar 1978 (age 46) 67 10 Germany Bayern Munich
19 2DF Nicolas Lombaerts (1985-03-20) 20 Mairch 1985 (age 38) 20 2 Roushie Zenit Saint Petersburg
2 2DF Toby Alderweireld (1989-03-02) 2 Mairch 1989 (age 34) 20 0 Netherlands Ajax
8 3MF Axel Witsel (1989-01-12) 12 Januar 1989 (age 35) 34 5 Roushie Zenit Saint Petersburg
23 3MF Moussa Dembélé (1987-07-16) 16 Julie 1987 (age 36) 44 5 Ingland Tottenham Hotspur
6 3MF Marouane Fellaini (1987-11-22) 22 November 1987 (age 36) 37 5 Ingland Everton
18 3MF Steven Defour (1988-04-15) 15 Aprile 1988 (age 35) 36 1 Portugal Porto
22 3MF Timmy Simons (1976-12-11) 11 December 1976 (age 47) 91 6 Germany Nürnberg
11 3MF Nacer Chadli (1989-10-02) 2 October 1989 (age 34) 11 2 Netherlands Twente
17 4FW Kevin Mirallas (1987-10-05) 5 October 1987 (age 36) 31 6 Ingland Everton
10 4FW Eden Hazard (1991-01-07) 7 Januar 1991 (age 33) 32 2 Ingland Chelsea
14 4FW Dries Mertens (1987-05-06) 6 Mey 1987 (age 36) 15 1 Netherlands PSV
7 4FW Kevin De Bruyne (1991-06-28) 28 Juin 1991 (age 32) 7 1 Germany Werder Bremen
20 4FW Jelle Vossen (1989-03-23) 23 Mairch 1989 (age 34) 10 2 Belgium Racing Genk
15 4FW Ilombe Mboyo (1987-04-27) 27 Aprile 1987 (age 36) 0 0 Belgium Gent
9 4FW Christian Benteke (1990-12-03) 3 December 1990 (age 33) 8 2 Ingland Aston Villa

Recent call-ups[eedit | eedit soorce]

The foalowin players hae been cawd up fir the team in the last twal months.

Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club Most Recent Match/Selection
GK Koen Casteels (1992-06-25) 25 Juin 1992 (age 31) 3 0 Germany Wolfsburg v.  Ireland, 26 March 2022
DF Jan Vertonghen (1987-04-24) 24 Aprile 1987 (age 36) 136 9 Portugal Benfica v.  Wales, 16 November 2021
DF Thomas Meunier (1991-12-12) 12 December 1991 (age 32) 54 8 Germany Borussia Dortmund v.  Wales, 16 November 2021
DF Timothy Castagne (1995-12-05) 5 December 1995 (age 28) 21 2 Ingland Leicester City v.  Wales, 16 November 2021
MF Axel Witsel (1989-01-12) 12 Januar 1989 (age 35) 120 11 Germany Borussia Dortmund v.  Wales, 16 November 2021
MF Kevin De Bruyne (1991-06-28) 28 Juin 1991 (age 32) 88 23 Ingland Manchester City v.  Wales, 16 November 2021
MF Yannick Carrasco (1993-11-04) 4 November 1993 (age 30) 54 8 Spain Atlético Madrid v.  Wales, 16 November 2021
MF Dennis Praet (1994-05-14) 14 Mey 1994 (age 29) 14 2 Italy Torino v.  Estonie, 13 November 2021
FW Dries Mertens (1987-05-06) 6 Mey 1987 (age 36) 103 21 Italy Napoli v.  Wales, 16 November 2021
FW Eden Hazard (1991-01-07) 7 Januar 1991 (age 33) 116 33 Spain Real Madrid v.  Estonie, 13 November 2021
FW Dodi Lukebakio (1997-11-24) 24 November 1997 (age 26) 4 0 Germany Wolfsburg v.  Italy, 10 October 2021

Statistics[eedit | eedit soorce]

Most capped[eedit | eedit soorce]

As of 29 march 2022 after Belgium - Burkina Faso
See also Progression of Belgium association football caps record.

Bold denotes still active players

# Player Belgium career Caps
1 Jan Vertonghen 2007- 136
2 Axel Witsel 2008– 120
3 Toby Alderweireld 2009- 118
4 Eden Hazard 2008- 116
5 Dries Mertens 2011- 103
6 Romelu Lukaku 2010- 101
7 Jan Ceulemans 1976–1991 96
8 Timmy Simons 2001–2016 94
9 Thibaut Courtois 2011- 94
10 Vincent Kompany 2004–2019 89

Top scorers[eedit | eedit soorce]

See an aa Progression of Belgium association football goalscoring record

# Player Belgium career Goals Caps
1 Romelu Lukaku 2010- 68
2 Eden Hazard 2008- 33
3 Bernard Voorhoof 1927-1940 30 61
3 Paul Van Himst 1960-1975 30 81
5 Marc Wilmots 1991-2002 29 70
6 Joseph Mermans 1945–1956 28 56
7 Robert de Veen 1906–1913 26 23
8 Wesley Sonck 2001–2010 24 54
9 Michy Batshuayi 2015- 23
10 Kevin De Bruyne 2010- 23

Youngest players[eedit | eedit soorce]

The tap 10 youngest players who made thair debut for the naitional fitbaw team o Belgium.

Rank Player (Team) Age
1 Fernand Nisot (Léopold Club) 16 years, 19 days
2 Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht) 16 years, 187 days
3 Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht) 16 years, 296 days
4 Paul Van Himst (Anderlecht) 17 years, 17 days
5 Jean Capelle (Standard Liège) 17 years, 153 days
6 Joseph Musch (Saint-Gilloise) 17 years, 198 days
7 Zakaria Bakkali (PSV) 17 years, 262 days
8 Vincent Kompany (Anderlecht) 17 years, 314 days
9 Eden Hazard (Lille) 17 years, 316 days
10 Raymond Braine (Beerschot) 17 years, 321 days

Coaches[eedit | eedit soorce]

Name Nat Period
William Maxwell Scotland 1910–1913
Charles Bunyan, Sr. Ingland 1914
William Maxwell Scotland 1920–1928
Victor Löwenfelt Austrick 1928–1930
Hector Goetinck Belgium 1930–1934
Jules Turnauer Hungary 1935
Jack Butler Ingland 1935–1940
François Demol Belgium 1944–1946
Bill Gormlie Ingland 1947–1953
Dougall Livingstone Scotland 1953–1954
André Vandeweyer Belgium 1955–1957
Louie Nicolay Belgium 1957 (Caretaker)
Géza Toldi Hungary 1957–1958
Constant Vanden Stock Belgium 1958–1968
Raymond Goethals Belgium Jun. 19, 1968 – Apr. 26, 1976
Guy Thys Belgium Mey 22, 1976 – Jun. 9, 1989
Walter Meeuws Belgium Jul. 23, 1989 – Feb. 21, 1990
Guy Thys Belgium Mey 26, 1990 – Mey 1, 1991
Paul Van Himst Belgium Sep. 1, 1991 – Mar. 21, 1996
Wilfried Van Moer Belgium Oct. 8, 1996 – Dec. 27, 1996
Georges Leekens Belgium Feb. 11, 1997 – Aug. 8, 1999
Robert Waseige Belgium Aug. 20, 1999 – Jun. 30, 2002
Aimé Anthuenis Belgium Aug. 21, 2002 – Dec. 31, 2005
René Vandereycken Belgium Jan. 1, 2006 – Apr. 7, 2009
Franky Vercauteren Belgium Mey 5, 2009 – Sep. 9, 2009
Dick Advocaat Netherlands Oct. 1, 2009 – Apr. 15, 2010
Georges Leekens Belgium Mey 4, 2010 – Mey 13, 2012
Marc Wilmots Belgium Mey 15, 2012 – 20 Julie 2016
Roberto Martinez Spain Julie 31, 2016 -

Historical Kits[eedit | eedit soorce]

1986 Home
1990 Home
1990 Away
1994 home
1994 away
1998 home
1998 away
2000 home
2000 away
2002 Home
2009 Home
2010 Home

See also[eedit | eedit soorce]

References[eedit | eedit soorce]

  1. a b "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 20 Julie 2023. Retrieved 20 Julie 2023.
  2. Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 17 Julie 2023. Retrieved 17 Julie 2023.

External links[eedit | eedit soorce]

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