Belgium World Cup 2018 squad and team guide

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The Hazard brothers, Thorgan (left) and Eden (right), are both Belgium internationals





Here we take a look at Belgium's World Cup squad and the other things it will be handy to know.

Belgium's preliminary World Cup squad - the 28 names

(To be cut to 23 by June 4)

Koen Casteels, Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Matz Sels; Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Laurent Ciman, Christian Kabasele, Vincent Kompany, Jordan Lukaku, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen; Nacer Chadli, Kevin De Bruyne, Mousa Dembele, Leander Dendoncker, Marouane Fellaini, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel; Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, Yannick Carrasco, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens.

Belgium fans expect their team to do well
Belgium fans believe their team to do well

  

 

What odds are Belgium to win the World Cup?

10/1

Who's the coach?

Roberto Martinez. Ever-smiling and ultra-positive, but his defensive nous is open to question. Decision to leave out Radja Nainggolan has proved controversial.

Who's the star?

Plenty to choose from, but Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard are the picks of a very talented bunch.

Best thing about them

A squad which is the envy of almost every nation on the planet. Loud, boisterous fans.

 

 

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Worst thing about them

Culture of underachievement at major tournaments. The perennial 'dark horses' tag no longer applies - this team should be challenging.

You may recognise...

Quicker to list those you won't. For added confusion, the squad also contains the lookalikey brothers of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku (Thorgan and Jordan).

Cameramen will be picking out...

The proud Lukaku and Hazard parents, presumably.

Fans' favourite chant

A viral video from 2016 showed Belgian and Ireland fans congregating in the shared language of 'La-la-la-la-las'.

On-field prediction

Imperious right up until they meekly exit in the quarter-finals to some gnarled South Americans.

Off-field prediction

Fine until they go out, then anonymous media briefings about the standard of hotel catering and a 'coarse' feel to the grass at their training base.