Secret’s out: Belgium more than dark horses to impress at World Cup

Since securing qualification for their first World Cup finals since 2002 – courtesy of Romelu Lukaku’s brace in hostile Croatian cauldron, the Maksimir – Belgium have failed to win.

Red Devils coach Marc Wilmots knows the old adage form is temporary but class is permanent, however, and his roster for Brazil will be packed full of talent. So much so, in fact, that competition for spots in the Belgian XI will be cut-throat.

The tag of dark horses simply won’t do for a side rated by Coral as fifth-favourites at 14/1 – ahead of former World Cup winners England, France, Italy and Uruguay – to lift the trophy on South American soil.

Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ had to watch on enviously four years ago as the neighbouring Netherlands went all the way to the final in South Africa. It is ironic the Clockwork Orange are now deemed to be half as likely to be World Cup winners as them at 28/1.

Wolfsburg’s Kevin de Bruyne – ditched by Chelsea in January – was Red Devils top-scorer in qualifying from midfield but, like so many squad members, he is not sure of a starting berth.

Premier League audiences are privy to several head-to-head battles going on this season, which will decide whether certain players are in Wilmots’ XI, or have to be content on the Belgian bench.

A back four comprised entirely of natural centre halves looks likely, although Anderlecht (and former Portsmouth loanee) right back Anthony Vanden Borre recently earned a recall for the first time in over two years.

Fitting the likes of Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich) and Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid) into a starting line-up simply isn’t possible.

Can such players, who line up against one another regularly in England’s top-flight or in Europe, gel to form a formidable defensive unit? It’s not just the back four where Wilmots has an embarrassment of riches either.

Liverpool stopper Simon Mignolet is vying with Thibaut Courtois – owned by Chelsea, but at Atletico with Alderweireld – for the number one jersey. This is a particularly tough call as there is a potential scenario where both have kept goal for title-winning teams in England and Spain.