Belgium naitional fitbaw team

This airticle is aboot the men's team. For the weemen's team, see Belgium weemen's naitional fitbaw team.

Belgium

Nickname(s)	Rode Duivels Diables Rouges Rote Teufel (Red Devils)
Association	Belgian Football Association
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Heid coach	Roberto Martínez
Caiptain	Eden Hazard
FIFA code	BEL
First colours Second colours
FIFA rankin
Current	5 (20 Julie 2023)
Heichest	1 (November 2015 – Mairch 2016, September 2018 – present)
Lawest	71 (June 2007)
Elo rankin
Current	8 4 (17 Julie 2023)
Heichest	1 (16 November 2019 - 11 October 2020, 27 Juin 2021 - 2 July 2021, 10 July 2021 - 7 october 2021)
Lawest	74 (September 2009)
European Championship
Appearances	6
Best result	Runners-Up, 1980
Medal record Men’s Football 1920 Antwerp Team

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

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

World Cup

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
1930	1st Roond	2	0	0	2	0	4
1934	1st Roond	1	0	0	1	2	5
1938	1st Roond	1	0	0	1	1	3
1950	Withdrew
1954	1st Roond	2	0	1	1	5	8
1958	Did nae qualify
1962
1966
1970	1st Roond	3	1	0	2	4	5
1974	Did nae qualify
1978
1982	2nt Roond	5	2	1	2	3	5
1986	4t place	7	2	2	3	12	15
1990	2nt Roond	4	2	0	2	6	4
1994	2nt Roond	4	2	0	2	4	4
1998	1st Roond	3	0	3	0	3	3
2002	2nt Roond	4	1	2	1	6	7
2006	Did nae qualify
2010								Did nae qualify
2014	Quarter final
2018	2t place
Tot	13/21	48	20	9	19	68	72

European Championship

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
1960	Did nae enter
1964	Did nae qualify
1968
1972	Third place	3rd	2	1	0	1	3	3
1976	Did nae qualify
1980	Runners-up	2nt	4	1	2	1	4	4
1984	Group Stage	6t	3	1	0	2	4	8
1988	Did nae qualify
1992
1996
2000	Group Stage	12t	3	1	0	2	2	5
2004	Did nae qualify
2008
2012
2016	Quarter finals
2016	Quarter finals
Tot		6/16	22	11	2	9	33	31

Olympic Games

Belgium won the Olympic Gowd Medal in 1920

• 1900: 3 ! Bronze medal
• 1920: 1 ! Gowd medal
• 1924: 1/16 finals
• 1928: 1/4 finals
• 2008: 4t Place

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

Euro 2012 qualifications

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 — 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

Main airticle: 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group A

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 — 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

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

Recent call-ups

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	3	0	Wolfsburg	v. Ireland, 26 March 2022
DF	Jan Vertonghen	(1987-04-24) 24 Aprile 1987	136	9	Benfica	v. Wales, 16 November 2021
DF	Thomas Meunier	(1991-12-12) 12 December 1991	54	8	Borussia Dortmund	v. Wales, 16 November 2021
DF	Timothy Castagne	(1995-12-05) 5 December 1995	21	2	Leicester City	v. Wales, 16 November 2021
MF	Axel Witsel	(1989-01-12) 12 Januar 1989	120	11	Borussia Dortmund	v. Wales, 16 November 2021
MF	Kevin De Bruyne	(1991-06-28) 28 Juin 1991	88	23	Manchester City	v. Wales, 16 November 2021
MF	Yannick Carrasco	(1993-11-04) 4 November 1993	54	8	Atlético Madrid	v. Wales, 16 November 2021
MF	Dennis Praet	(1994-05-14) 14 Mey 1994	14	2	Torino	v. Estonie, 13 November 2021
FW	Dries Mertens	(1987-05-06) 6 Mey 1987	103	21	Napoli	v. Wales, 16 November 2021
FW	Eden Hazard	(1991-01-07) 7 Januar 1991	116	33	Real Madrid	v. Estonie, 13 November 2021
FW	Dodi Lukebakio	(1997-11-24) 24 November 1997	4	0	Wolfsburg	v. Italy, 10 October 2021

Statistics

Most capped

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

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

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

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

Historical Kits

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

• Belgium naitional youth fitbaw team (U-17, U-18, U-19, U20, U21, U23 Squads)
• Belgium weemen's naitional fitbaw team

External links

• Footbel.be website – Belgian FA offeecial wabsteid
• Footbel.be website – Belgian national team news wabsteid
• Footbel.be/National team statistics page/ Archived 2011-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
• The Red Devils Archive Archived 2012-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
• RSSSF archive of results 1904–
• RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
• RSSSF archive of coaches 1904–
• IFFHS Archive:1904–1910