Hoping Belgium improve , so they don't sack the manager and go after one of their past great players who's doing rather well at present .

Defour?

I'm hoping Belgium improve as well otherwise my work sweepstake will be useless.

Even if Martinez is potted I genuinely can't see Vinny being interested right now, he knows he needs to prove himself in England if he is to attract the bigger clubs.

Plus Belgium are an ageing squad on the wane now.

He would be bored if he managed Belgium. I think he enjoys the pressure and trying to improve young players.

Yep. International football management is a part time job. VK looks and behaves like he loves the full time aspect of coaching and bringing on young players. He’d be bored rigid doing it for a few days every three months.
Nothing to see here…

Do not expect anything from Belgium against Croatia. The atmosphere between some players is awful. Courtois and De Bruyne don't speak to each other for private reasons. Batshuayi and Lukaku are not friends. Hazard and Trossard don't talk to each other. According to L'équipe,Lukaku had to intervene to stop an argument between De Bruyne and Vertonghen after sunday's defeat against Morocco. It's not looking good at all before our crucial game against Croatia,

Belgiumburnley wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:27 pm

Do not expect anything from Belgium against Croatia. The atmosphere between some players is awful. Courtois and De Bruyne don't speak to each other for private reasons. Batshuayi and Lukaku are not friends. Hazard and Trossard don't talk to each other. According to L'équipe,Lukaku had to intervene to stop an argument between De Bruyne and Vertonghen after sunday's defeat against Morocco. It's not looking good at all before our crucial game against Croatia,

How come Courtois and De Bruyne don’t speak?

Massive waste of generational talent if it’s personal rifts causing current form. First I’d heard of that.

De Bruyne's ex-girlfriend had an affair with Courtois.

Belgiumburnley wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:51 pm

De Bruyne's ex-girlfriend had an affair with Courtois.

That would do it

Reminds me of John Terry and Wayne Bridge a few years ago

I liked KDB’s “no chance” of Belgium winning the World Cup. Might have been to the Guardian.

They look a shadow of the team they were and some of the players look way of the pace , looking like age as caught up with them.

Belgiumburnley wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:27 pm

Do not expect anything from Belgium against Croatia. The atmosphere between some players is awful. Courtois and De Bruyne don't speak to each other for private reasons. Batshuayi and Lukaku are not friends. Hazard and Trossard don't talk to each other. According to L'équipe,Lukaku had to intervene to stop an argument between De Bruyne and Vertonghen after sunday's defeat against Morocco. It's not looking good at all before our crucial game against Croatia,

What's the attitude towards the team in Belgium? If that was in England and a generational group of talent like that was wasting its chance of winning by falling out with each other I think the atmosphere towards the players would turn quite nasty.

Hi BelgiumBurnley - lang geleden hé

The Belgian national team has been led by a donkey for the last years. Best generation ever, no prizes, failed each time in crucial matches by making huge tactical mistakes (like the WC semi final against France, changing the team to bring in the slow Dembele to play against Mbappe).

The persistence with players who are long past their selling date and are out of form (Hazard, Witsel, Vertongen,...) is painful to watch. The build up play is pedestrian, there is no pace in the team while players in form like Trossard, Doku, Openda are consistently overlooked.

No wonder that a class player like De Bruyne is getting fed up.

And of course the atmosphere will be toxic when all those former glories look at another to point the blame.

Add to that the failure to speak to talented Belgian raised players like Zaroury and El Khannouss and losing them to Morocco is also indicative of a complete failure to look ahead.

If you ask me we've no chance against and organized team like Croatia. And even if we win, it'll be curtains closed in the next round against Germany or Spain.

Get them home as quickly as possible, and let the better teams progress I'd say.

Time for a complete rebuild of the squad under the guidance of a younger Belgian manager (I'd suggest a profile such as Wouter Vrancken)

Dyche to Belgium

Hi Dave,
Alles goed in Brugge ?
I only hope that Lukaku will be fit enough to start then maybe we have a little chance even if we do not deserve to go through.
Time for some much needed changes !

Alles ok hier, hopelijk hetzelfde bij jou.

I don't think Lukaku is up to it at the moment, maybe an impact sub for about 20mins.

I'd go for Doku & Openda, with Vanaken in & the pedestrian Witsel out

However, as you say, complete rebuild required with new manager - UTC !!

I'm surprised Trossard hasn't been starting, he's looked really good for Brighton this season.

Belgianclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 10:01 am

Alles ok hier, hopelijk hetzelfde bij jou.

Don’t need google translate for that - it reads exactly as it sounds - like my drunk mate stumbled into the pub and came up to say hello

The Belgians and the Dutch seem to be teams who take it in turns to behave like this.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 11:48 am

The Belgians and the Dutch seem to be teams who take it in turns to behave like this.

The French often give it a go but sadly they’re keeping the playing to on the pitch right now.

Agree with the sentiments about Roberta Martinez on this thread.

The Belgian line up once again smacks of desperation

that's just so so soft, no surprise it's an English referee who thinks every bit of contact is a foul

Penalty Croatia.

Edit..Antony Taylor rules it out for offside after viewing replay.

Those lines were so badly drawn, wtf??

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 01, 2022 3:18 pm

Penalty Croatia.

Antony Taylor rules it out for offside after viewing replay.

Why the hell does the ref have to decide on an offside????

Looks like one of Croatia or Belgium are going out as it's 2-0 to Morocco in the other match.

This was the offside

Regarding the penalty, was he even touched? Guess we’ll get another look at half time.

Canada 1 Morocco 2 now.

What would you like it to be? Is probably the Q they ask themselves!

given the quality of players on display in the Belgium v Croatia game it is an astoundingly poor match

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 01, 2022 3:35 pm

This was the offside

Farcical.

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 01, 2022 3:37 pm

Regarding the penalty, was he even touched? Guess we’ll get another look at half time.

Complete farce of a decision, couldn't see much contact, they then call referee to VAR for offside (which I thought was automated?), they draw awful lines on, then show the automated image which looks onside after offside is given.

De Bruyne for the most part is an amazing player. But he’s a moody two hat and I don’t think his negativity or the way hes carrying himself on the pitch does Belgium any favours.

zero contact on replay, Taylor is such a shite referee

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 01, 2022 3:49 pm

De Bruyne for the most part is an amazing player. But he’s a moody two hat and I don’t think his negativity or the way hes carrying himself on the pitch does Belgium any favours.

His comments last week were bizarre

Lukaku

Good job the ball was out of play

Credit where it's due, I never expected Morocco to be top of their group, but they've looked quite good so far.

I would rather Morocco went out and we get our player back for QPR than they go through and he sits on the bench all tournament.

Commy wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 01, 2022 4:43 pm

I would rather Morocco went out and we get our player back for QPR than they go through and he sits on the bench all tournament.

Me too.

Though worth mentioning QPR’s star player is also doing the exact same as him right now.

Half chance for Lukaku there....came to him a bit fast.

Wow Lukaku, which team is he on?

And another!

What a donkey

Match winning block there.

I don't know how they haven't scored

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 01, 2022 4:47 pm

Me too.

Though worth mentioning QPR’s star player is also doing the exact same as him right now.

And QPR don't have Nathan Tella to take his place.

Ball bounced off Lukaku in every direction but towards the goal I think

the end of the golden generation

Just remind me again how much utd and Chelsea paid for him !!