World Cup 2022 Team Preview - Belgium

Belgium's odds to win the World Cup

16/1

Best World Cup

3rd place 2018, 4th place 1986 

2018 World Cup

3rd place

Belgium's World Cup Schedule

• Read a full Group F summary here

Road to Qatar

Belgium are yet to convert their undoubted talent into tournament success, but their dominant prowess was on full display in the qualification stages. Away 1-1 draws in Wales and the Czech Republic were the only times they were seriously tested, while their six victories saw them notch 20 goals to seal the group with five points to spare.

Recent form 

Since securing their passage to finals, Belgium have experienced fluctuating fortunes. They received something of a taste of their own attacking medicine when they were dismantled 4-1 by the Netherlands in their opening Nations League game, only to bounce back in style by thrashing Poland 6-1 just five days later. More workmanlike performances earned a win and a draw against Wales and another victory against the Poles, but their final 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands in September suggests there is still plenty of work to do before Belgium fulfil their potential.

Belgium squad 

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg)

Defenders: Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Toby Alderweireld (Antwerp), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Amadou Onana (Everton), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)

Forwards: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Lois Openda (Lens)

Team insights

Probable formation: 3-4-2-1 Blessed with a surplus of proven A-list talent, Belgium's boss Roberto Martinez is faced with the prospect of keeping all of his golden generation stars involved in their most effective roles. The proven partnership of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld forms a formidable defensive barrier in front of Real Madrid's keeper, Thibaut Courtois, allowing wing-backs Thomas Meunier and Timothy Castagne to be busier, and usually more effective, in their opponents' half than in their own. Despite struggling with recent injuries, a fully fit Romelu Lukaku is likely to be first pick ahead of Michy Batshuayi up top, allowing Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne to strut their expansive stuff between the lines. If the versatile De Bruyne is utilised in a deeper  role, then Youri Tielemans and in-form Leandro Trossard are more than capable of pulling the creative strings.

World Cup prospects

Sitting second behind Brazil in the FIFA rankings, Belgium will kick off the tournament in the top four of the betting market and as such, anything less than a semi-final appearance will be considered a failure. Their Group F opponents should not prove too much of an obstacle - Croatia do not seem the force that reached the 2018 final, while the potential banana skins of Morocco and Canada should be negotiated without alarm. However, there will be no easy path through the knockout stages, as Belgium can expect to face either Spain or Germany in the last 16, and potentially the likes of Brazil or Portugal in the quarters. Best hope: Final chance

Read more about each of Belgium's Group F opponents:

Croatia, Morocco, Canada