Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has announced a 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. So, who would join Youri Tielemans and Kevin De Bruyne in the Red Devils’ best XI?
Martinez took Belgium to the semi-finals of the quadrennial FIFA tournament in Russia four years ago. A 2-0 win against England in the third-place play-off also marked the Red Devils’ best result at the competition. They reached the final four in 1986 but lost the play-off tie.
Qatar 2022 now likely marks the final chance for Belgium’s Golden Generation to win the World Cup together. Thibaut Courtois, 30, Toby Alderweireld, 33, Jan Vertonghen, 35, Axel Witsel, 33, and De Bruyne, 31, may struggle to feature at the next tournament come 2026.
Martinez announces a 26-man Belgium squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup
FIFA has drawn Belgium in F with Canada, Morocco and defeated 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia for Qatar 2022. Martinez’s team start their first round campaign against the Maple Leafs on November 23 and face the Atlas Lions on the 27th before Vatreni on December 1.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has now announced Martinez’s 26-man side going to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He is taking three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and seven forwards to the first of FIFA’s tournaments held in the Middle East.
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge)
Defenders: Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Timothy Castagne, Wout Faes (Leicester City), Zeno Debast, Jan Vertonghen (RSC Anderlecht), Arthur Theate (Stade Rennais)
Midfielders: Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Axel Witsel, Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Forwards: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan – on loan from Chelsea), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Lois Openda (RC Lens)
So, with Martinez now announcing his 26-man squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, HITC Football has looked at who makes Belgium’s best XI alongside Tielemans and De Bruyne…
Thibaut Courtois (GK): The Real Madrid and Belgium star is off to a third World Cup
Courtois is off to a third World Cup after Martinez announced the Real Madrid goalkeeper in Belgium’s squad for Qatar 2022. The 96-cap stopper started all 12 of the Red Devils’ ties across the 2014 and 2018 editions. He also recorded five clean sheets with three in Russia.
Zeno Debast (CB): Anderlecht’s 19-year-old has stolen Dendoncker’s position
Debast has stolen Dendoncker’s slot in Martinez’s favoured backline ahead of Qatar 2022. The Belgium boss gave the 19-year-old his debut and started the Anderlecht ace in the Red Devils’ two September fixtures. Dendoncker did not play a minute and only made one side.
Toby Alderweireld (CB): The Royal Antwerp captain is a mainstay of Belgium’s XI
Alderweireld is a mainstay of Belgium’s backline and will now feature at a third World Cup at Qatar 2022. The 123-cap enforcer played a pivotal part in the Red Devils reaching the quarter-finals at Brazil 2014 and semi-finals at Russia 2018 with a combined 930 minutes.
Jan Vertonghen (CB): Qatar 2022 is likely to be the 141-cap hero’s last World Cup
Qatar 2022 is very much likely to be Vertonghen’s last World Cup at 35 years old. The 141-cap Belgium hero made his international bow in 2007 and has gone on to start 135 games. He also started the action in 10 of his 11 appearances across Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.
Thomas Meunier (RM): Martinez will want the Borussia Dortmund star to create
Martinez will want to see Borussia Dortmund star Meunier creating from Belgium’s right-hand channel in Qatar. The 31-year-old has so far recorded eight goals and 16 assists over his 58 caps. One of his goals came in the 2018 third-place play-off tie to beat England 2-0.
Youri Tielemans (CM): Qatar 2022 is the Leicester maestro’s chance to shine
Qatar 2022 is Tielemans’ chance to shine on the World Cup stage after making Belgium’s squad. The Leicester maestro also made Martinez’s plans for Russia 2018. But the 54-cap star only featured for 176 minutes across four appearances, despite laying on two assists.
Axel Witsel (CM): The Atletico Madrid star will be Belgium’s deep-lying threat
Atletico Madrid star Witsel will be Belgium’s deep-lying threat in Qatar. Martinez will rely on the 126-cap veteran anchoring his engine room to provide defensive cover. But the 33-year-old can push forward and pose a threat with 12 goals and nine assists over his 126 caps.
Yannick Carrasco (LM): Martinez will want more than Atletico Madrid are getting
Martinez will want to see more from Carrasco in Qatar than Atletico Madrid are getting from the 29-year-old this term. At the time of the RBFA announcing the 59-cap star in Belgium’s World Cup squad, Carrasco had only recorded two goals and two assists in his 19 games.
Kevin De Bruyne (RAM): Belgium have one of the World Cup’s best midfielders
Belgium will have one of the best midfielders at the World Cup in Qatar in Manchester City icon De Bruyne. The 93-cap technician is among the world’s best players and will go to the Middle East in great form. Over his 18 games for Pep Guardiola, he has 13 assists this term.
Eden Hazard (LAM): Martinez continues to back him despite struggling in Madrid
Martinez continues to support Hazard despite his ongoing issues at Real Madrid. The 122-cap ace played each of Belgium’s past six games and captained the side in four. Yet the 31-year-old had played 131 minutes in La Liga this term when Belgium announced their team.
Romelu Lukaku (ST): Belgium will be sweating over the striker’s fitness
Belgium will be sweating over Lukaku’s fitness ahead of the World Cup with the forward currently injured. The RBFA announced the 29-year-old in Martinez’s squad despite only playing twice for 29 minutes since August due to a thigh injury he aggravated in October.
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