2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ - News - Belgium braced for more reunions
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The people of Belgium like to see the world, which is not surprising when you consider that it takes just a couple of hours to travel from one end of the country to the other. Like their compatriots, the players who make up the Red Devils squad at Russia 2018 also like to get around. And their talent is such that they have been able to choose some very select destinations. In the process, Roberto Martinez’s men have made friends around the world, and they have been catching up with some of them in Russia. Last Thursday they met up with some English club colleagues, and on Friday they will be coming across some familiar Brazilian faces, with a semi-final place at stake no less. Five of Europe’s biggest clubs have both Brazil and Belgium internationals on the books, prompting us to take a close look at the match-ups within the match, one of the biggest in Belgian footballing history. First stop is Manchester City, one of the most impressive sides of last season and the current home to no fewer than six of the players who will lock horns in Kazan on Friday. In terms of status at the club, Belgian Citizens Kevin de Bruyne and Vincent Kompany pull rank over Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho (who are both expected to start), Danilo and Ederson. Kompany will be hoping his gift for anticipation will help get the better of the forward, a player he fears. “He can score goals and create space for his team-mates with his movement and work rate,” said the central defender in reference to Gabriel, before adding: “I really like my team-mates a lot as people, but once the handshakes are over there’ll be no love lost.” As for Fernandinho, his job will be to prevent Kompany from getting the ball to De Bruyne, who in turn will look to link up with Romelu Lukaku.
- Red Devils set to cross swords with some familiar Brazilian faces
- Five big European clubs boast Brazil and Belgium players
- Players full of admiration for each other, and fear
By Simon Massart with Belgium
The people of Belgium like to see the world, which is not surprising when you consider that it takes just a couple of hours to travel from one end of the country to the other. Like their compatriots, the players who make up the Red Devils squad at Russia 2018 also like to get around. And their talent is such that they have been able to choose some very select destinations. In the process, Roberto Martinez’s men have made friends around the world, and they have been catching up with some of them in Russia. Last Thursday they met up with some English club colleagues, and on Friday they will be coming across some familiar Brazilian faces, with a semi-final place at stake no less. Five of Europe’s biggest clubs have both Brazil and Belgium internationals on the books, prompting us to take a close look at the match-ups within the match, one of the biggest in Belgian footballing history. First stop is Manchester City, one of the most impressive sides of last season and the current home to no fewer than six of the players who will lock horns in Kazan on Friday. In terms of status at the club, Belgian Citizens Kevin de Bruyne and Vincent Kompany pull rank over Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho (who are both expected to start), Danilo and Ederson. Kompany will be hoping his gift for anticipation will help get the better of the forward, a player he fears. “He can score goals and create space for his team-mates with his movement and work rate,” said the central defender in reference to Gabriel, before adding: “I really like my team-mates a lot as people, but once the handshakes are over there’ll be no love lost.” As for Fernandinho, his job will be to prevent Kompany from getting the ball to De Bruyne, who in turn will look to link up with Romelu Lukaku.
Another reunion to look forward to is that between Thomas Meunier and Neymar. Though there is not much the right-back does not know about the Brazilian ace, having marvelled at his technique at Paris Saint-Germain, he is less than sure about how to blunt the threat he poses.
“I don’t know how to stop him. He’s very unpredictable,” said the Belgian. “Neymar is probably the best player I’ve ever played with or against. I’ll do my best. I know we have a chance but I also know that it’s very tough to stop them as a whole, not just Neymar.” The Belgian would like nothing better than a repeat of the 4-0 scoreline that PSG inflicted on Barcelona and Neymar in the UEFA Champions League last season, which came before the Brazilian decamped to the French capital to link up with fellow countrymen Marquinhos and Thiago Silva.
Along with Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batshuayi, Eden Hazard has long been dreaming of taking on Brazil and their Chelsea team-mate Willian in the Final, a pleasure he will now have in the quarter-finals instead. The two formed an instant connection on and off the pitch. The similarity in their games no doubt plays a part in that; both like to express themselves to feel fulfilled and will in all likelihood be trying to avoid each other in Kazan so they can do just that.
Though Simon Mignolet and Thomas Vermaelen are unlikely to be facing their Brazilian club-mates on the pitch, they are well versed in the way of the Seleção attack. The keeper will have some advice to give to Courtois on the positioning and movements of Liverpool colleague Roberto Firmino.
For his part, the central defender, who is also a team-mate of Paulinho's, has been trying to cope with the ability of Philippe Coutinho to dribble with the ball, evade markers and dictate the pace in Barcelona training sessions since January. And in the lead-up to the big game, Coutinho’s former Liverpool team-mate Christian Benteke, who failed to make Martinez’s 23-man squad, has been doing his bit to stir the pot on Twitter.
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