Since 1994, my favourite international football team has always been Argentina.
However, based on their shaky form in the WC 2018 qualifications, I would have to vouch for Belgium to clinch this year’s World Cup.
The reason is quite simple: On paper, they are a complete team. From their goalkeeper to their forwards, they are a star-studded squad, a golden generation that oozes talent.
Their defensive line that includes the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweld, is solid.
Vincent Kompany, when fit, is undoubtedly one of the best five centre backs in the world, and his leadership qualities and invaluable experience can help marshal the Belgian defence.
Their central midfield of Marouane Fellaini and Mousa Dembele might not be the best midfield duo at the World Cup, but Fellaini is tenacious and aggressive on the defence — and his height provides good defensive cover and attacking dimension when it comes to long balls.
Dembele’s distribution and work rate make him a very dependable option for building up the attack.
Greatest weapon
Belgium’s greatest weapon is undoubtedly the dazzling creativity of their attacking midfielders.
Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity and piercing passes and Eden Hazard’s fancy footwork and penetrative runs will terrorise opposition defences, while Diers Mertens’ 22 goals in 49 appearances for Napoli in Serie A is an eye-opening statistic for an opposition that decides to focus on Kevin and Eden.
The greatest responsibility will fall on the strikers — whether their finishing can be up to par with the service provided by their inventive teammates in midfield.
Robert Martinez will hope that Michy Batshuayi can replicate his goal-scoring form for Borussia Dortmund, and even though Romelu Lukaku’s season was not terrible, failing to secure the Premier League with Manchester United might drive him to excel in the greatest football competition in the world.
The only challenge facing Martinez’s men at the World Cup is whether they can evolve from individual stars to a solid cohesive unit.
