A Brief History of Belgium Football World Cup Fights

Posted by Xchange Tickets on August 17th, 2022

In 1930, Belgium played in the first-ever match at a Football World Cup, which saw them hurt an unbecoming 3-0 loss against the United States. A single-goal loss against Paraguay was shadowed. And Belgium was removed without finding the back of the net once. That’s how Belgium’s World Cup past started. Let’s see where it will go in the coming.

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Belgium Football World Cup History

The following two World Cups didn’t bring everything for Belgium either, except losses against France and Nazi Germany. Having reserved in qualification for the 1950 tournament, Belgium made a return to Switzerland 4 years later. A notable highlight was their remarkable 4-4 draw against England, but the 4-1 loss to Italy directed the Red Devils home.

Belgium would then have a Football World Cup hiatus that continued for 16 years. Despite this, the Belgians did knowledge some noteworthy highlights during these dark times, like beating the defensive world champions West Germany mere months afterward they won the title in 1954. They also succeeded over Hungary’s golden team two years later and beat reigning world champions Brazil 5-1 in 1963, feats that gave Belgium the derisive nickname of World Champion of the Friendlies.

in 1970, Belgium didn’t aim to continue as World Champion of the Friendlies

But as real-world champions, they finally repaid at football’s greatest stage in Mexico. Here, the Belgians lastly won a World Cup match 3-0 against El Salvador. It was an important win. Still, the cup was a dissatisfaction as they had to exit after losing their following matches against the Soviet Union and the hosts, Mexico.

After a hiatus, Belgium’s achievement continued as they made a reappearance in the World Cup in 1982. Until now, the only team the Red Devils had beaten at the Football World Cup was El Salvador. Now they were gonna face defensive champions Argentina in the opening match. Against the odds, Belgium was winning thanks to a goal by Erwin Vandenbergh, but overhead all, it was a good team effort. To Know more about  Belgium Vs Canada Tickets click here.

In the succeeding match, Belgium again defeated El Salvador, who had lost 10-1 against Hungary. Now the Hungarians stood against Belgium in the final matchday. The match was over 1-1, which was enough for the Belgians to top the group and finance to the second group stage, where their competition ended following losses against Poland and the Soviet Union.

First Golden Group

Succeeding came to the 1986 World Cup, again held in Mexico, and again Belgium Football World Cup lost against the Mexicans. To reach the competition, Belgium narrowly eclipsed their arch-rivals the Netherlands in a high-stake play-off. Goals from François Vercauteren and Georges Grün made certain the Red Devils advanced on away goals. A form of poetic fairness, as the Dutch had narrowly denied the Belgians a place at the 1974 World Cup.

Belgium also found fairness at this World Cup by beating Iraq and drawing with Paraguay to clinch a spot in the knockout phase against the Soviet Union, who had a squad of mostly Ukrainian players and topped their assembly easily. In 1970, the Soviets defeated Belgium 4-1. In 1982, they won by a only goal. Their 1986 match over up was one of the games of the period.

Game of the Century

Igor Belanov gave the Soviets the lead in the 27th minute with a great attack. Enzo Scifo equalized early in another half, only for Belanov to score once again in the 70th minute. However, only 7 minutes passed until Jan Ceulemans made it 2-2. The remainder of normal time failed to produce a champion. During extra time, Belgium Football World Cup made it both 3-2 and 4-2 thanks to goals from Stephane Demol and Nico Claesen, while Belanov secured his hattrick through a consequence.

Belgium was in the last eight, where Ceulemans scored again against Spain. La Roja did find a late drawback, though, and extra time couldn’t split them with Belgium either. The Red Devils showed a bit too potent in the penalty shootout, reaching a World Cup semi-final for the first period.

They did lose it, but to have contributed in one of the best matches of Diego Maradona’s career must still feel like an honor in some ways, even though its progression felt devastating at the moment. Belgium’s bronze match against France was also remarkable, but the Red Devils barely lost 4-2 to Le Bleus after extra time.

Four More Successive World Cups

Belgium made a spot at Italia ‘90, where they were pretty successful yet again, making wins against South Korea and Uruguay, albeit behind Spain. It was enough to save a spot in the Round of 16, where England won thanks to a vivid David Platt volley just a couple of notes before the match would head to penalties.

The 1994 World Cup was an alike story for Belgium. After enjoying a solid group phase where they won against Morocco and competitors the Netherlands, the Red Devils suffered a devastating 3-2 loss in the knockout stage. Once again, it was West Germany. A silver lining was the presentation of Michel Prud’-homme, who was named the World Cup’s best goalkeeper.

Despite passing for France 98, Belgium failed to replicate their previous achievement at this championship. Three draws weren’t sufficient to secure a spot in the last 16, despite going undefeated. Belgium’s inspiring Football World Cup streak continued, qualifying for their sixth consecutive tournament in 2002. They enjoyed an average rivalry that saw them once again be removed in the round of 16, having progressive from a group that was on the east side.

Second Golden Generation

This was noticeable at the end of Belgium’s streak, and the Red Devils didn’t succeed in a single major tournament until the 2014 World Cup. But when they did, they came there as one of the candidates, or at least one of the main dark horses. By now, Belgium’s second golden cohort had started developing, with several players playing for the top club’s crossways Europe’s elite leagues.

In fairness, Belgium’s group was easy, but they had made that by being highly seeded thanks to their excellent performances in experiences. The Red Devils topped the group by charming every match and beating a resilient United States side with a heroic Tim Howard between the sticks in the round of 16 after extra time.

Inopportunely, Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain ended Belgium’s run in the quarter-finals, but the Belgians still made it that far at a World Cup for the first period since 1986. It’s incredible how fast the rise of Belgium was. From failing to qualify for a European Championship to deservedly reaching the quarter-finals of a Football World Cup and even arriving at the competition as somewhat of a candidate despite no real recent pedigree.

First World Cup Medal

Belgium’s golden cohort showed no signs of decline in the 2018 World Cup passing where they won all matches but one. The Belgians once again inwards at a major tournament as one of the top candidates, a label they proved to be warranted by persuasively winning all of their group matches.

However, Belgium wasn’t as undoubted in the round of 16 against Japan. At least for the first 67 minutes. Then The Red Devils put in additional gear, scoring three goals in 25 minutes to secure a spot in their second consecutive World Cup quarter-final the first time to do so consecutively. Just like four years previous, it was a South American team, but not Argentina. It was Brazil.

Belgium obtained quite a privileged lead through its own goal

But there was nonentity lucky about the second one. Kevin de Bruyne’s vivid shot made it 2-0. Renato Augusto’s comfort goal in the 76th minute never became more than just that. Belgium was in the semi-finals for the first time in 32 years, where they would express their big brother to the south, France, who notably beat them in the bronze match of 1986.

It was an end-to-end game that could’ve been absent either way and was ultimately decided by a Samuel Umtiti header. Another unsatisfactory loss for Belgium Football World Cup, who would’ve had good odds to win the title against Croatia in the final. Still, the Red Devils over the tournament on a high note, winning their first medal at a World Cup by beating England for the second time that summer.

Belgium Football World Cup Champions at Last?

Belgium does have some young forecasts with bright futures, and they seem to have become more of a talent factory rather than a republic that has a golden cohort every 30 to 40 years. Still, with their best players aging, it’s only a matter of time before they start deteriorating. Qatar 2022 is likely the last chance for Belgium’s second golden group to win the World Cup.

Only time will tell what occurs later this year. If Belgium plays to their full possible, they can win the title. However, they’ve writhed to do so across the most recent contests in the latter stage matches that matter. This trend must be wrecked if Belgium wants to win the trophy.

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