Belgium are back in the World Cup after 12 years, and with their hottest crop of players in a generation.
With an incredible knack for timing, Belgium’s best have conspired to come of age in one providential season which has seen them taking on leading roles in England and Spain, the toughest two leagues in the world.
It has even pushed national team captain Vincent Kompany to mention the unspeakable – winning the World Cup in Brazil.
“I don’t think we will be able to win the World Cup on talent alone. But given some luck, a strong performance by everyone and the right team spirit ...,” the Manchester City defender said, trailing off at the thought of Belgium winning their first major title since the 1920 Olympics.
The draw has also provided a helping hand, putting Belgium in Group H with Russia, South Korea and Algeria. Advancing from that group should pose few problems for the Belgians.
From then on, the side have a few men that could turn any game in a flash of one brilliant action.
At 21, Thibaut Courtois has used his loan stint from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid to become the best goalkeeper in Spain. If he comes face-to-face with Cristiano Ronaldo – which is possible in the second round – he won’t be intimidated.
Courtois was man of the match when he won the Copa del Rey last season in a Madrid derby. And he knows the pressure of winning all too well with Atletico going for both the domestic and Champions League titles this season.
Up front, playmaker Eden Hazard is gaining in poise and confidence almost by the week, pushing Chelsea toward the top of the Premier League table and making him a prized protege of ever-demanding manager Jose Mourinho.
Calm and inspiration will not only be forthcoming from Kompany. Just about all first-team players earn their money abroad, from Russia to Portugal over to Germany and Italy. Yet, when it comes to the World Cup, just about all will be rookies.
Then again, Marc Wilmots has the experience to make up for all. He played in four World Cups and now is headed to his first as a coach.
Belgium surprised the world when they pushed right into the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, stopped only by Diego Maradona and eventual winners Argentina. Wilmots got on board four years later as a burly, ebullient midfielder, and in four editions his team was often solid but not good enough to reach the quarter-finals.
In Belgium’s last World Cup match, they were stopped by eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16 at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.
Now, Wilmots is bent on taking his team further.
“Everybody who has gotten past the first round of a World Cup will tell you,” Wilmots told Le Soir newspaper, “it is the form of the moment that will make the difference.”
With only a few notable exceptions, Belgium have often been a team bigger than the sum of their players.
This time, after an absence of 12 years, the Belgians are back at the World Cup with several players known around the world, including Vincent Kompany and Eden Hazard.
Just about the entire squad play abroad, and many in the biggest leagues, giving the Belgians a hope they haven’t had since reaching the semi-finals in 1986.
Here are five players to watch:
Vincent Kompany – If anyone epitomises the revival of Belgian football, it is central defender Vincent Kompany.
Kompany was a prodigy at 17 with Anderlecht, and in 2012 he was the rock on which Manchester City built their first Premier League title in 44 years.
Now 28, he continues to be the anchor for one of the richest teams in one of the world’s toughest leagues.
Beyond his positioning and physical prowess, Kompany is best known for his leadership qualities, earning him the captaincy at both City and the Belgian national team.
Eden Hazard – If Vincent Kompany is dependency personified, Eden Hazard is counted on for creativity. And if he extends the way he has been playing for Chelsea on the World Cup stage in Brazil, he could well become one of the marquee players of the tournament.
Hazard developed his skills for Lille in Ligue 1, and his speed, agility, passing precision and tactical insight turned him into the best player of that league before Chelsea lured him to London.
Thibaut Courtois – Outplay Belgium and there still remains one massive problem for any team at the World Cup – how to get past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Like so many Belgians, he looked abroad from an early age and left Racing Genk for Chelsea, who almost immediately sent him on to Atletico Madrid.
What looked like a demotion for some turned out to be a gift unlike few others.
Courtois won the Europa League as a teenager, the Copa del Rey over Real Madrid, and faces some of the world’s best strikers on a weekly basis to hone his skills.
At 21, the towering goalkeeper with an immense reach is already one of the best in the world.
Romelu Lukaku – An all-out striker has never been Belgium’s forte. And amid the glittering array of goalkeepers, defenders and playmakers, it is up to Romelu Lukaku to impose himself as the team’s fearful frontman.
Lukaku already did so in the match that qualified Belgium for the World Cup, scoring two first-half goals in Croatia that effectively muzzled the home team.
A striker that uses body and bulk rather than sweet skills, Lukaku keeps bouncing back. At 20, he has already faced several setbacks at Chelsea, but when he went to West Bromwich Albion and, this season, to Everton, he always proved there was plenty left in him.
Kevin De Bruyne – Lanky winger Kevin De Bruyne has had perhaps the strongest World Cup qualifying campaign of all Belgians.
At club level, though, the 23-year-old De Bruyne has had a disappointing year. He started out with high ambitions with Chelsea, but after he fell out with manager Jose Mourinho, he rarely made it past the bench.
Now, he is reviving his career in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.
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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Company%20Profile
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THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
