Men ‘s association football team
This article is about the men ‘s team. For the women ‘s team, see Belgium women ‘s national football team
The Belgium national football team [ c ] officially represents Belgium in men ‘s external football since their maid catch in 1904. The squad is under the ball-shaped jurisdiction of FIFA and is governed in Europe by UEFA —both of which were co-founded by the Belgian team ‘s supervising body, the Royal Belgian Football Association. Periods of regular belgian representation at the highest international horizontal surface, from 1920 to 1938, from 1982 to 2002 and again from 2014 onwards, have alternated with largely unsuccessful reservation rounds. Most of Belgium ‘s home matches are played at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.

Belgium ‘s national team have participated in three quadrennial major football competitions. It appeared in the end stages of thirteen FIFA World Cups and five UEFA european Championships, and featured at three Olympic football tournaments, including the 1920 Olympic tournament which they won. early noteworthy performances are victories over four reigning worldly concern champions —West Germany, Brazil, Argentina and France—between 1954 and 2002. Belgium has long-standing football rivalries with its dutch and french counterparts, having played both teams about every class from 1905 to 1967. The police squad has been known as the Red Devils since 1906 ; its fan clubhouse is named “ 1895 ”. During the national musician career of forward Paul Van Himst, the most-praised belgian football player of the twentieth hundred, Belgium finished in third gear put as hosts at UEFA Euro 1972. After that, they experienced two aureate ages with many endow players. In the first time period, which lasted from the 1980s to the early on 1990s, the team finished as runner-up at UEFA Euro 1980 and fourth in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. In the second, under guidance of Marc Wilmots and by and by Roberto Martínez in the 2010s, Belgium topped the FIFA World Rankings for the foremost clock time in November 2015 and finished third base at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. To date, Belgium is the alone national team in the world to top the FIFA rank without having won a World Cup or a continental trophy ( Spain had topped the rank in late 2008 without winning the World Cup, but had won the european title in 1964 and 2008 ) .

history [edit ]

Belgium was one of the first mainland european countries to play association football. [ 8 ] Its practice in Belgium began on 26 October 1863, after an irish scholar walked into the Josephites College of Melle with a leather ball. [ 9 ] Initially an elitist pastime, [ 10 ] during the following decades association football supplanted rugby as Belgium ‘s most popular football fun. On 1 September 1895, ten clubs for football, athletics, cricket and cycle founded the belgian sports control panel Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports Athlétiques ( UBSSA ) ; [ 12 ] a year late UBSSA organised the first annual league in belgian football .
Football team in uniform The first Belgium A-squad in 1901 featured four Englishmen. On 11 October 1900, Beerschot AC honorary president of the united states Jorge Díaz announced that Antwerp would host a series of challenge matches between Europe ‘s best football teams. After some organizational problems, on 28 April 1901, Beerschot ‘s slope hosted its first tournament, in which a belgian A-squad and a dutch B-team contested the Coupe Vanden Abeele. [ 15 ] Belgium won, and beat the Netherlands in all three follow-up matches ; FIFA does not recognise these results because Belgium fielded some english players. On 1 May 1904, the Belgians played their first official match, against France at the Stade du Vivier d’Oie in Uccle ; their trace left the Évence Coppée Trophy unclaimed. [ 18 ] Twenty days former, the football boards of both countries were among the seven FIFA founders. [ 19 ] At that time, the belgian team was chosen by a committee draw from the nation ‘s six or seven major clubs. In 1906, the national team players received the dub Red Devils because of their loss jerseys, and four years late, scots ex-footballer William Maxwell replaced the UBSSA committee as their coach. [ 23 ] From 1912, UBSSA governed football only and was renamed UBSFA. [ d ] [ 1 ] During the Great War, the national team lone played unrecognized friendlies, with matches in and against France. [ 24 ] [ 25 ] At the 1920 Summer Olympics, in their beginning official Olympic appearance, the Red Devils won the gold decoration on dwelling territory after a controversial final in which their czechoslovakian opponents left the pitch. [ 26 ] In the three 1920s Summer Olympics, they achieved fair results ( four wins in seven matches ), and played their inaugural intercontinental match, against Argentina. [ 24 ] however, over the be decade, Belgium lost all of their matches at the first three FIFA World Cup final tournaments. [ 24 ] According to historian Richard Henshaw, “ [ thymine ] he growth of [ football ] in Scandinavia, Central Europe, and South America left Belgium far behind ”. Although World War II hindered external football events in the 1940s, the belgian team remained active with unofficial matches against squads of other allied nations. [ 28 ]
A successful penalty kick, seen from the back of the net In the 1920 Olympic football final examination at the Olympisch Stadion in Antwerp, Robert Coppée scored for Belgium with a penalty kick. Belgium qualified for only one of eight major tournaments during the 1950s and the 1960s : the 1954 World Cup. The day before the tournament began, the RBFA was among the three UEFA founders. [ 29 ] Dutch journalists considered the pull back of the 1954 belgian team in their opener against England to be the most surprising result of that match day, flush more than Switzerland ‘s victory over the italian “ football stars ”. [ 30 ] however, Belgium were eliminated after a loss to Italy in the irregular ( and last ) group match. [ 31 ] Two brilliantly spots in these decades were wins against World Cup holders : West Germany in 1954, and Brazil in 1963. [ 24 ] Between these, Belgium defeated Hungary ‘s Golden team in 1956. [ 24 ] The combination of failure in competitive matches, and success in exhibition matches, gave the Belgians the mock style of “ world champion of the friendlies ”. [ 32 ] The team ‘s performance improved during the early 1970s, under director Raymond Goethals. Fully dressed in egg white, as the White Devils, [ 34 ] Belgium had their first victories at World and european Championships at the 1970 World Cup and Euro 1972. [ 35 ] [ 36 ] En path to that Euro appearance, their first base, they eliminated reigning european champions Italy by winning the two-legged quarter-final on aggregate. At the end stagecoach, they finished third gear by winning the consolation couple against Hungary. [ 36 ] In 1973, the denial of a match-winning goal in their stopping point 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification meet for UEFA Group 3 cost Belgium their appearance at the finals, [ 37 ] causing belgium to become the lone nation ever to miss a World Cup final round despite not allowing a goal during the qualifiers. The adjacent two attempts to reach a major finals were besides bootless. [ 39 ] [ 40 ] Beginning with a second-place end at Euro 1980, [ 41 ] the 1980s and the early 1990s are broadly considered as Belgium ‘s first gold long time. [ 42 ] Coached by Guy Thys, they achieved their smudge in the 1980 final with an unbeaten read in the group phase ; in the final, they narrowly lost the title to West Germany with the score 1–2. [ 41 ] Starting with the 1982 World Cup, and ending with the 2002 World Cup, the national team qualified for six consecutive World Cup end stages and largely progressed to the moment round. [ 43 ] During this menstruation, managers Guy Thys, Paul Van Himst and Robert Waseige each guided a belgian choice past the inaugural round. [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ] In addition to receiving individual FIFA recognitions, [ 47 ] [ 48 ] the team reached the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup. [ 49 ] After reaching the euro 1980 final, they were unsuccessful at subsequent european Championships, with early exits from their appearances in 1984 and in 2000. [ 50 ] [ 51 ] During the recently 1990s, they played three friendly tournaments in Morocco, Cyprus and Japan, [ 52 ] [ 53 ] sharing the 1999 Kirin Cup with Peru in the latter. [ 54 ] The greatest talents of the belgian team during this golden age were retired from international football by 2000. [ 55 ] At the eve of the World Cup in 2002, Belgium defeated reigning world and european champions France. [ 24 ] During that World Cup, Belgium defeated Russia and tied with co-hosts Japan and Tunisia to reach the round of 16. [ 46 ]
Belgian defender maneuvering around the Algerian goal (in red) playing Belgiumplaying Algeria at the Mineirão at the 2014 World Cup After the 2002 World Cup, the team weakened with the loss of more veterans and coach Waseige. [ 56 ] [ 57 ] They missed out five consecutive major finals from UEFA Euro 2004 until UEFA Euro 2012, and went through an equal number of head coaches. [ 58 ] A 2005 gain over reigning european champions Greece meant nothing but a little consolation. [ 24 ] In between, a predict new generation was maturing at the 2007 european U-21 Championship ; Belgium ‘s squad qualified for the take after year ‘s Summer Olympics in Beijing, [ 59 ] where the Young Red Devils squad finished fourth. [ 60 ] Seventeen of them appeared in the senior national team, [ 55 ] albeit without making an immediate impact. Belgium finished in second ( and last ) station at the Kirin Cup in May 2009, [ 61 ] and lost against the hundred-and-twenty-fifth FIFA-ranked armenian team in September 2009. [ 6 ] After Georges Leekens ‘ moment least sandpiper as national coach, [ 62 ] [ 63 ] his adjunct Marc Wilmots became the caretaker in May 2012. [ 64 ] After two matches as interim coach, Wilmots agreed to replace Leekens as coach. [ 65 ] Following his appointment, the team ‘s results improved, [ 66 ] such that some alien media regarded it as another belgian fortunate generation. [ 67 ] [ 68 ] [ 69 ] The new belgian team qualified as unbeaten group winners for the 2014 World Cup finals, [ 70 ] and earned Belgium ‘s second-ever place in a World Cup quarter-finals with a four-match gain streak. [ 71 ] Belgium qualified for UEFA Euro 2016 with a match to spare in October 2015, [ 72 ] and took the top spot in the FIFA World Rankings for the first meter in November 2015, [ 73 ] to stay inaugural for five months. [ 6 ] [ 74 ] In the comply class, Belgium could not confirm their function as foreigner at the european Championship with a quarter-final elimination by the 26th FIFA-ranked Welsh team. [ 6 ] [ 75 ] This prompted the RBFA to dismiss Wilmots. [ 76 ] In the 2018 World Cup qualifying allocation, they were seeded first gear in their group, [ 77 ] [ 78 ] and made the final examination tournament under spanish director Roberto Martínez, becoming the first european team besides hosts Russia to do so. [ 79 ] Belgium was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions France, but won the third place play-off against England. [ 80 ] On 16 November 2019, for the first meter in its history the team topped the World Football Elo Ratings, after a 1–4 away win over Russia during the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Despite the impressive mannequin in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers ampere well as being regarded as the biggest rival for the European trophy, the tournament became a complete disappointment for Belgium. Being drawn in Group B aboard Russia, Denmark and Finland, Belgium easily conquered the group with three wins. [ 81 ] [ 82 ] [ 83 ] In the knockout phase, Belgium first faced reigning champions Portugal in the last sixteen and survived the panic with a boom hit from Thorgan Hazard to give Belgium a 1–0 win. [ 84 ] In the quarter-finals, Belgium once again confront old enemy Italy, but Belgium failed to take retaliation of their 2016 loss when once again falling 1–2, with finish being scored by Romelu Lukaku, ending Belgium ‘s crusade in a deplorable note. [ 85 ]

team double [edit ]

Kits [edit ]

Team photo on the pitchTeam emblem: a gold lion on a black shield background traditional crimson jersey worn by the team which placed third base at the 2018 World Cup, and the stylize leo emblem ( 1948–80 ) In home matches, the team ‘s outfield players traditionally wear the color of the belgian masthead : black, yellow and red. [ 86 ] [ 87 ] [ 88 ] Red dominates the strip and is frequently the lone jersey color. [ 87 ] [ 88 ] The away colours are normally white, black or both ; [ 89 ] in 2014, the team introduced a third base, chicken kit. [ 90 ] Their shirts are much trimmed with tricolores at the margins. [ 88 ] [ 91 ] Since 1981, the RBFA emblem has been the national team ‘s badge ; [ 88 ] [ 92 ] the former badge was a jaundiced lion on a total darkness shield, [ 87 ] [ 88 ] alike to the finger plate of the national coat of arms. [ 93 ] On 8 November 2019, the Royal Belgian Football Association revealed a new logo, which preserved the main elements of the previous one : the royal crown, the wreath and the belgian trichromatic. [ 94 ] For their first base unofficial couple in 1901, the belgian team wore white jerseys with tricoloured bands on the upper arms. Around their third unofficial pit in 1902, the choice was made for a “ shirt with national colours … [ that would indicate, ] with a stripe, the total of times every actor has participated in an brush ”. Since 1904, Belgium ‘s classic all-red jersey invention has been altered twice. In 1904–05, the squad briefly wore satin shirts with three horizontal bands in red, chicken and black ; according to sports journalist Victor Boin, the shirts set “ the nefariousness record ”. During the 1970s, coach Raymond Goethals chose an all-white combination to improve the team ‘s visibility during evening matches. [ 34 ] [ 95 ] Six clothe manufacturers have supplied the official team strip. Adidas is the producer since 2014, [ 96 ] and closed a sponsorship deal with the RBFA until 2026 ; [ 97 ] it was besides the supplier from 1974 to 1980, and from 1982 to 1991. Former kit manufacturers are Umbro ( early 1970s ), [ 95 ] Admiral ( 1981–1982 ), [ east ] Diadora ( 1992–1999 ), Nike ( 1999–2010 ) and Burrda ( 2010–2014 ). [ fluorine ] [ 100 ]

Media coverage [edit ]

Journalist, seated in the stands and speaking into a microphone Gust De Muynck ‘s hot coverage during Belgium–Netherlands in 1931 The first live coverage of a belgian clean event occurred on 3 May 1931, when diarist Gust De Muynck commentated on the football match between Belgium and the Netherlands on radio. [ 101 ] Later, football broadcasts were besides televised. As 60 per penny of Belgians speak Dutch and 40 per cent french, [ 102 ] commentaries for the national team matches are provided in both languages. The matches are not broadcast in German—Belgium ‘s third official terminology. [ 102 ] During Belgium ‘s tournament appearances in the 1980s and the early on 1990s, Rik De Saedeleer crowned himself the state ‘s most celebrated football commentator with his emotional and humorous reports. [ 103 ] initially the matches were transmitted chiefly on populace television channels : the early BRTN ( immediately VRT ) in Dutch, and the RTBF in French. Since 1994, commercial channels such as vtm and its baby duct Kanaal 2, and VIER in Flanders, have purchased air rights. [ 1 ] The Euro 2016 round-of-16 pit against Hungary was the most-watched program in belgian television history, with an consultation of over four million viewers out of 11.3 million belgian citizens. [ 102 ] [ 104 ] [ 105 ] In April 2014, the VRT started transmitting a nine-piece, sub-rosa documentary about the national team filmed during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, titled Iedereen Duivel ( Everybody Devil ). [ 106 ] Cable broadband supplier Telenet broadcast an eight-part objective about individual players titled Rode Helden ( Red Heroes ). [ 107 ]

slope activities [edit ]

Old cartoon of an association football match with the goalkeeper in the middle who jumps and hits the ball exemplification of Belgium ‘s game against France in April 1918 : some of such unofficial wartime matches served as charity fundraisers. multiple events were organised for the fans during the team ‘s bill popularity in the 2010s. During the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, a string of synergistic events called the Devil Challenges were organised. [ 108 ] The precede was that small groups of external players would do a party favor in return for each of the five comprehensive chores their supporters completed ( “ colour Belgium crimson ”, “ assemble 500,000 decibels ”, etc. ), all of which were accomplished. [ 109 ] In June 2013, the belgian national team ‘s beginning always Fan Day attracted over 20,000 supporters ; [ 110 ] a second was held after the 2014 World Cup. [ 111 ] On the days of Belgium ‘s 2014 World Cup group matches, large dance events titled Dance with the Devils took place in three belgian cities. [ 112 ] This type of happening was repeated during Belgium ‘s Euro 2016 group matches. [ 113 ] occasionally, the belgian team directly supported charity. between 1914 and 1941 they played at least five unofficial matches of which the returns were for charitable purposes : two against France, [ 25 ] [ 114 ] and three against the Netherlands. [ 115 ] [ 116 ] In mid-1986, when the belgian deputation reached the Mexico World Cup semi-finals, the squad started a project titled Casa Hogar, an mind of deputation drawing card Michel D’Hooghe. [ 117 ] Casa Hogar is a home for street children in the mexican industrial city of Toluca, to which the footballers donated depart of their tournament bonuses. [ 118 ] In August 2013, the national team supported four social projects through the charity fund Football+ Foundation, by playing an A-match with a asset gestural on the shoulders of their jerseys and auctioning the shirts. [ 119 ] In the twenty-first hundred, respective national team players acted up against discrimination. In 2002, the home team held its first anti- racism campaign in which they posed with slogans. [ 120 ] A home Euro 2012 qualifier was given the theme of deference for diverseness in 2010 ; this UEFA-supported carry through was contribution of the European FARE Action Week. [ 121 ] Ex-Red Devil Dimitri Mbuyu —the first black Belgium player ( in 1987 ) [ 55 ] [ 122 ] —was engaged as godfather, and early alien, current, and former footballers who played in the belgian top part participated. [ 123 ] In 2018, four national team players spoke up against homophobic ferocity, in a video clip made by organization Kick It Out. [ 124 ]

nickname, logo and mascot [edit ]

After a 1905 match, a dutch reporter wrote that three belgian footballers “ work [ erectile dysfunction ] as devils ”. [ 125 ] A year late Léopold FC coach Pierre Walckiers nicknamed the players Red Devils, inspired by their jersey color, and the accomplishment of three consecutive victories in 1906. [ 24 ] Because of their white home shirts in the 1970s, they were temporarily known as the White Devils. [ 34 ] Since 2012, the team logo is a red trident ( or three-pronged pitchfork ), [ 126 ] an item that is frequently associated with the monster. apart from that, the home squad has besides had four official anthropomorphic mascots. The first was a lion in team kit named Diabolix, [ 128 ] a reference book to the central symbol in the belgian coat of arms that appeared on the team jersey from 1905 to 1980. [ 88 ] [ 129 ] In accord with their epithet, the next mascots were a crimson super-devil and two fan-made modern devils ; the most holocene one, since 2018, was named “ crimson ”. [ 128 ] [ 130 ]

Supporters [edit ]

“ cycle is the traditional home sport of Belgium, but soccer is the most popular. ”

—Historian Richard Henshaw, 1979
Fans of the belgian national team display the nation ‘s tricolor national flag, normally with an emphasis on the crimson component. In 2012, local supporter clubs merged into one large belgian confederation named “ 1895 ” after the basis year of the RBFA. One year subsequently, 1895 had 24,000 members. [ 131 ] The countrywide interest in the football team has besides been reflected by the occasional presence of belgian sovereign at their matches since 1914. [ 132 ] [ 133 ] [ 134 ] One of the greatest moments for the belgian team and their 12th man was in mid-1986 when the belgian deputation at the Mexico World Cup received a warm “ welcome family ”. When the World Cup semi-finalists appeared on the balcony of Brussels Town Hall, the adjoining Grand Place hearty was filled with an ecstatic push that cheered as though their police squad had won a major tournament. [ 135 ]
About a hundred Belgian football wearing mainly red shirts sitting in the stadium Crowd of belgian fans in Kaliningrad Stadium at the 2018 World Cup The team ‘s deterioration after the 2002 World Cup lead to their absence from the end stages of the adjacent five major tournaments, and strained their popularity. between 2004 and 2010, local journalists called the belgian footballing state “ mortally ill ”. [ 136 ] [ 137 ] Of the fans that kept supporting their squad in bad times, Ludo Rollenberg was one of the most patriotic. He attended the team ‘s matches worldwide since 1990, missing only the 1999 japanese Kirin Cup and two other matches by 2006, [ 138 ] and was the entirely assistant to attend their matches in Armenia in 2009. [ 139 ] just before the kick-off of a 2014 World Cup home qualifier, Belgium ‘s footballers saw a beginning tifo banner, sized 10.5 by 11.5 metres ( 34 by 38 foot ) depicting a annoy in the national color. [ 140 ] The presence of many belgian players in top leagues abroad, such as the Premier League, and promising results under Marc Wilmots, increased fans ‘ enthusiasm and belief in a successful World Cup campaign. [ 110 ] [ 142 ] Because of this popularity point, two belgian monuments were decorated in home colours for the 2014 FIFA World Cup consequence ; the Manneken Pis statue received a child-sized interpretation of the new belgian uniform, [ 143 ] and facets of the Atomium ‘s upper sphere were covered in black, jaundiced and red vinyl. [ 144 ]

Rivalries [edit ]

Match phase with two outfield players from each side example of a Netherlands–Belgium cup match at Rotterdam ‘s Schuttersveld cant in 1905 Belgium ‘s main football rivals are its neighbors the Netherlands and France, with which it shares close cultural and political relations. [ 145 ] [ 146 ] The match-up between the Belgian and Dutch team is known as the Low Countries bowler hat, as of May 2018 they have played each early in 126 official matches. [ 115 ] [ 147 ] Belgium won the first four—unofficial—matches against the Netherlands, but lost their first base FIFA-recognised contest. [ 24 ] The two national teams played each other biannually between 1905 and 1964, except during the World Wars. [ 24 ] They have met 18 times in major tournament campaigns, and have played at least 35 friendly cup matches : in Belgium for the Coupe Vanden Abeele, and in the Netherlands for the Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad-Beker. [ 15 ] [ 125 ] The overall proportion favours the Netherlands, with 55 wins against 41 belgian victories. [ 147 ] The low Countries ‘ squads co-operated in fundraising initiatives between 1925 and 1941 ; they played five unofficial matches for charity, FIFA and the belgian Olympic Committee. [ 115 ] [ 116 ] [ 148 ] The collide between the belgian and french sides is dub le Match Sympathique in French ( “ the friendly Match ” ) ; [ 149 ] they have contested 74 official matches as of September 2020. [ 147 ] The beginning match between Belgium and France, the Évence Coppée Trophy played in 1904, was the first official match for both teams and the first base official football match between independent countries on the european continent. [ 150 ] Until 1967, the sides met about annually. [ 24 ] As of September 2020, Belgium have the better record, with 30 wins to France ‘s 25, [ 147 ] and France has played most frequently against Belgium in international football. [ 147 ]

stadium [edit ]

Aerial photo of packed stadiumStadium interior, photographed from the grandstand The national stadium at the Heysel Plateau in 1935 ( left ) and in 2013 numerous former and stream venues in 11 urban areas have hosted Belgium ‘s home matches. [ 24 ] Most of these matches have been played in Brussels at the Heysel Plateau, on the site of the contemporary King Baudouin Stadium —a multipurpose facility with a seating capacity of 50,122. [ 151 ] Its field besides hosts the team ‘s final trainings before domestic matches. Since 2007, most physical planning takes place at the National Football Centre in Tubize, [ 152 ] or at Anderlecht ‘s coach labor in the Neerpede one-fourth. [ 153 ] [ 154 ] Apart from Belgian home friendlies, at the international level Belgium ‘s national stadium has besides hosted six european Championship matches. [ 155 ] [ 156 ] In 1930, for the country ‘s centennial, the venue was inaugurated as the Jubilee Stadium with an unofficial match between Belgium and the Netherlands. [ 115 ] At that time, the stadium had a capacity of 75,000. [ 157 ] In 1946, it was renamed Heysel Stadium after its city quarter. This new name became associated with the tragedy preceding the 1985 european Cup Final between Juventus and Liverpool ; 39 spectators died after riots in the then antediluvian build. [ 158 ] Three years after the calamity, plans were unveiled for a renovation ; [ 160 ] in 1995, after two years of function, the modernized stadium was named after the former King Baudouin. [ 161 ] In May 2013, the Brussels-Capital Region announced that the King Baudouin Stadium would be replaced by Eurostadium, elsewhere on the Heysel Plateau ; [ 162 ] in 2018, however, the plans for the new stadium were cancelled definitively. [ 163 ]

stream competitions [edit ]

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [edit ]

UEFA
Rules for classification: source : FIFA Rules for classification : Tiebreakers

Records and fixtures [edit ]

As of 30 March 2021, the dispatch official match record of the belgian national team comprises 798 matches : 348 wins, 167 draws and 283 losses. [ bel ] [ 24 ] [ 164 ] During these matches, the team scored 1,430 times and conceded 1,270 goals. Belgium ‘s highest winning allowance is nine goals, which has been achieved on four occasions : against Zambia in 1994 ( 9–0 ), doubly against San Marino in 2001 ( 10–1 ) and 2019 ( 9–0 ), and against Gibraltar in 2017 ( 9–0 ). [ 24 ] Their longest winning streak is 12 wins, and their highest unbeaten record is 23 back-to-back official matches. [ guanine ] [ 24 ] The integral couple phonograph record can be examined on the following articles :
Upcoming fixtures are listed on the 2020s results page .

Results and fixtures [edit ]

2021 [edit ]

2022 [edit ]

Belgium vanadium TBD

21–24 November 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup v Qatar
Stadium: TBD

Belgium vanadium TBD

25–28 November 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup v Qatar
Stadium: TBD

Belgium v TBD

29 November – 2 December 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup v Qatar
Stadium: TBD

management [edit ]

Portrait of a seriously-looking man Roberto Martínez, Belgium ‘s current drumhead coach ( since 2016 )

Since 1904, the RBFA, 24 permanent managers and two caretaker managers have formally been in charge of the national team ; [ h ] [ 23 ] [ 58 ] this includes one national football player picker. [ 23 ] As of June 2016, a crew of over 20 RBFA employees guides the player group, [ 167 ] including their spanish coach Roberto Martínez, and goalkeeping coaches Erwin Lemmens and Iñaki Bergara. [ 168 ] [ 169 ] Under Marc Wilmots, Belgium reached the top FIFA ranking spot in 2015, which earned him the championship of Best Coach of the year at the 2015 Globe Soccer Awards. [ 170 ] Under Guy Thys, the police squad achieved record results at World and european championships ; World Soccer magazine consequently proclaimed him Manager of the year in 1986. [ 171 ] rather than developing advanced team formations or styles of play, Belgium ‘s managers applied ceremonious tactics. At the three 1930s World Cups, the Red Devils were aligned in a contemporary 2–3–5 “ pyramid ”. [ 172 ] [ 173 ] [ 174 ] In 1954, Doug Livingstone ‘s police squad played in a 3–2–5 “ WM ” arrangement during World Cup matches. [ 31 ] Throughout most of their tournament matches in the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s, the team played in a 4–4–2 formation. [ 35 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] Since Raymond Goethals ‘ stretch in the 1970s, a key forte of the belgian police squad has been their taxonomic use of the offside trap, [ 175 ] a defensive tactic that was already intensively applied in the 1960s by Anderlecht coach Pierre Sinibaldi. [ 176 ] According to football diarist Wim De Bock, “ master tactician ” Goethals represented the “ cautious, defensive football of the belgian national team ” ; he added that in the 1970s, the contrast between the belgian play style and the Total Football of their dutch rivals “ could not be bigger ”. In an attack to win a peer at the 1998 World Cup, Georges Leekens chose a 4–3–3 arrangement for Belgium ‘s second and third base group matches. [ 178 ] Robert Waseige, Belgium coach around 2000, said that “ above all, [ his ] 4–4–2 arrangement [ was ] holy place ”, in the sense that he left good attackers on the bench to keep his favorite formation. [ 179 ] Wilmots opted for the 4–3–3 line-up again, [ 180 ] with the intention of showing dominant football against any country. [ 181 ] Under Wilmots, Belgium managed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup where the team lost against Argentina in the quarter finals. After another qualification for the 2016 european Championships under Wilmots and a subsequent elimination in the quarter finals against Wales, Wilmots was replaced by Roberto Martinez. Martinez led Belgium during a successful 2018 World Cup, reaching 3rd place overall after being eliminated in the trailer truck finals by France .

Coaching staff [edit ]

Players [edit ]

current police squad [edit ]

29 players were named to the squad for the two remaining matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification rival, on 13 and 16 November against Estonia and Wales respectively. [ 182 ] On 9 November, both Youri Tielemans and Toby Alderweireld left the excerpt due to injuries sustained while playing for their club. [ 183 ] [ 184 ] After the equal against Estonia, with qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup immediately secured, a new excerpt was released. From the 27 persist, Thibaut Courtois, Jason Denayer, Eden Hazard, Simon Mignolet and Dennis Praet were dropped, while Thomas Kaminski was added. [ 185 ]

Information correct as of 17 November 2021, after the match against Wales.

recent call-ups [edit ]

The trace footballers were part of a national selection in the by twelve months, but are not character of the current police squad .

noteworthy [edit ]

Player on the pitch in national team outfit Paul Van Himst between 1904 and 1980, chiefly attacking Belgium players were recognised as talented footballers. In the team ‘s foremost ten, striker Robert De Veen was very fat with 26 goals in 23 international appearances. [ 186 ] Richard Henshaw described Alphonse Six as “ Belgium ‘s greatest player in the prewar menstruation … [ who ] was much called the most nice fore outside Great Britain ”. The key player of the triumphant 1920 Olympic squad was Robert Coppée, who scored a hat-trick against Spain ‘s Ricardo Zamora, [ 187 ] and the penalty in the final. [ 188 ] early outstanding belgian strikers in the interwar menstruation were former top scorer Bernard Voorhoof and “ Belgium ‘s football grandmaster ” Raymond Braine, [ 55 ] [ 189 ] considered “ one of the greatest players of the earned run average ”. Gifted players in the 1940s and the 1950s included centre-back Louis Carré and attackers Jef Mermans, Pol Anoul and Rik Coppens ; at the 1954 World Cup, Anoul glow with three goals, [ 31 ] and newspaper L’Équipe named Coppens the consequence ‘s best kernel forward. [ 191 ] The 1960s and the early 1970s were the glory days of fore and four-time Belgian Golden Shoe Paul Van Himst, [ 192 ] subsequently elected belgian UEFA Golden Player of 1954–2003 and Belgium ‘s Player of the Century by IFFHS. [ 193 ] [ 194 ] At the 1965 Ballon d’Or, Van Himst ranked one-fourth, achieving Belgium ‘s highest ever side at the European football election. [ 196 ] Decades after Coppens and Van Himst had retired from playing football, a diarist on a flemish television read asked them “ Who [ from both of you ] was the best, actually ? ”. Coppens replied : “ I will ask Paul that … If Paul says it was me, then he ‘s right ”. [ 197 ] In 1966, striker Raoul Lambert and defending midfielder Wilfried Van Moer joined the national team ; [ 55 ] while the UEFA praised Lambert for his skills at Euro 1972, [ 198 ] Van Moer won three Golden Shoes and equalled Van Himst ‘s one-fourth rank at the 1980 Ballon d’Or. [ 192 ] [ 199 ] Belgium has seen two talented waves since 1980, from which respective players in defensive positions gained external fame. In the 1980s and the early 1990s, goalkeepers Jean-Marie Pfaff and Michel Preud’homme were elected best custodians at FIFA World Cups, [ 47 ] [ 48 ] while FIFA recognised midfielders Jan Ceulemans and Enzo Scifo as the motivate forces of Belgium ‘s 1986 FIFA World Cup squad. [ 47 ] [ 200 ] In 2002, after all players of this generation had retired, [ 55 ] Marc Wilmots became Belgium ‘s exceed scorer at the World Cup with five goals. [ 46 ] [ 178 ] During the 10 years from 2002 to 2012 in which Belgium failed to qualify for major tournaments, another fortunate coevals matured, many of whom gained both flower individual and team awards in foreign european top clubs and competitions. [ i ] These include defender Vincent Kompany, [ 201 ] [ 202 ] midfielder Kevin De Bruyne who is one of the best attack midfielders in the world and his generation ; [ 203 ] and winger Eden Hazard, who has been praised as one of Chelsea F.C. ‘s greatest players ever [ 204 ] and one of his era ‘s best footballers in the world, [ 205 ] in the team, he is ranked only after Romelu Lukaku on Belgium ‘s all-time scoring leaderboard. [ 206 ] [ 207 ] Honorable mentions of this golden generation are Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen, Dries Mertens, and Toby Alderweireld. [ 208 ] These players helped Belgium complete at the third place of 2018 FIFA World Cup, the team ‘s best resultant role at the tournament and reach number one on FIFA ranking doubly, since 2015. [ 209 ] [ 210 ]

individual records [edit ]

Most capped players [edit ]

Jan Vertonghen is Belgium ‘s most capped actor with 136 appearances. As of 13 November 2021, the RBFA lists 705 players who appeared on the men ‘s senior national team. [ 55 ] With 136 caps according to the RBFA, Jan Vertonghen has the most appearances for Belgium. [ b ] [ 186 ] Jan Ceulemans started the most matches as captain ( 48 ). [ 211 ] Hector Goetinck had the longest career as an international football player : 17 years, 6 months and 10 days. [ 55 ]

As of 17 November 2021. The records are collected based on data from FIFA and RSSSF. Statistics include three matches that are unrecognised by FIFA.[j]
Players in bold are still active with Belgium.

top goalscorers [edit ]

Romelu Lukaku is Belgium ‘s circus tent goalscorer with 68 goals. Romelu Lukaku is the highest-scoring Belgium player with 68 goals. [ bel ] [ 186 ] Those who scored the most goals in one catch are Robert De Veen, Bert De Cleyn and Josip Weber with 5 ; [ 55 ] De Veen besides holds the commemorate for the most hat-tricks with three. [ 55 ] Belgium ‘s fastest goal after the initial kick-off was scored by Christian Benteke, 8.1 seconds into the equal against Gibraltar on 10 October 2016. [ 211 ] [ 212 ]

As of 17 November 2021. The records are collected based on data from FIFA and RSSSF. Statistics include three matches that are unrecognised by FIFA.[j]
Players in bold are still active with Belgium.

competitive record [edit ]

Overview
Event 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 4th place
FIFA World Cup 0 0 1 1
UEFA European Championship 0 1 1 0
Olympic Games 1 0 1 1
UEFA Nations League 0 0 0 1
Total 1 1 3 3

FIFA World Cup [edit ]

Belgium failed to progress past the first base orotund of their earliest five World Cup participations. After two scoreless defeats at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, [ 172 ] the team scored in their first-round knockout matches in the 1934 and 1938 editions —but alone adequate to save their honor. [ 173 ] [ 174 ] In 1954, they drew with England ( 4–4 after supernumerary fourth dimension ), [ 31 ] and in 1970, they won their first World Cup match, against El Salvador ( 3–0 ). [ 35 ] From 1982 until 2002, Belgium qualified for six consecutive World Cups, and in the tournament finals they advanced beyond the first round five times. [ 43 ] In the 1982 FIFA World Cup undoer, Belgium beat defending champions Argentina 1–0. Their tournament ended in the second group stage, after a polish hat-trick by Zbigniew Boniek and a 0–1 loss against the Soviet Union. [ 44 ]
Match phase with aerial play United States–Belgium in 1930 was the joint first ever World Cup pit. At Mexico 1986, the belgian team achieved their then best-ever World Cup run at the clock. In the smasher phase as underdogs they beat the Soviets after extra time ( 3–4 ) ; [ 213 ] the unnoticed offside position of Jan Ceulemans, during the initial ninety minutes, allowed him to equalise ( 2–2 ) and force the pit into extra time. [ 214 ] They besides beat Spain, in a punishment shoot-out after a 1–1 draw, but lost to eventual champions Argentina in the semi-final 2–0, and France in the third-place equal ( 4–2 ). [ 49 ] In the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Belgium dominated periods of their second-round match against England ; Enzo Scifo and Jan Ceulemans hit the carpentry. [ 216 ] David Platt ‘s volley in the final examination moment of supernumerary time, described as “ closely blind ” by Richard Witzig, avoided an obviously scoreless draw and led to the sudden elimination of the Belgians. [ 218 ] In 1994, a 3–2 frustration to defending champions Germany saw Belgium go out in the second round again. [ 45 ] Afterwards, the entire belgian deputation criticised referee Kurt Röthlisberger for not awarding a punishment for a disgusting on belgian Josip Weber. [ 219 ] Three draws in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup were insufficient for Belgium to reach the hard stage. [ 178 ] With two draws, the 2002 FIFA World Cup started ill for Belgium, but they won the decisive group meet against Russia 3–2. In the irregular round, they faced eventual World Cup winners Brazil ; Belgium lost 2–0 after Marc Wilmots ‘ headed opening goal was disallowed due to a “ apparition foul ” on Roque Júnior, as Witzig named it. [ 46 ] In 2014, Belgium beat all their group opponents with a single-goal difference. [ 71 ] Thereafter, they played an entertain round of 16 catch against the United States, [ 221 ] in which American goalkeeper Tim Howard made 15 saves. [ thousand ] however, they defeated the United States 2–1 in extra clock time. [ 71 ] In a balanced quarter-final, Argentina eliminated Belgium, after a 1–0 victory. [ 223 ] At the 2018 World Cup, Belgium started with five consecutive victories ( including group wins over Panama, Tunisia and England ). In the fourth, in the round of 16 match against Japan, they suffered a major reverse in the second half by being led 0–2, but goals from Jan Vertonghen and late substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli led to an improbable and historical comeback to 3–2. belgium then defeated World Cup favourites Brazil 2–1 on the back of an early Fernandinho own finish and a goal by Kevin De Bruyne, [ 224 ] [ 225 ] and reached the semifinals. [ 226 ] Belgium lost to France 0–1 in the semi-final, but rebounded to win 2–0 in their second victory over England in the tournament to secure third position and the best always World Cup result for the belgian national team. Some players that notably contributed were captain Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku, who were late recognised by FIFA as the tournament ‘s second best player ( Silver Ball ), best goalkeeper ( Golden Glove ) and third base peak scorekeeper ( Bronze Boot ), respectively. [ 227 ]

Belgium’s FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Host nation(s)
and year
Round Pos Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay1930 Round 1 11th of 13 2 0 0 2 0 4 Squad Qualified as invitees
Italy1934 15th of 16 1 0 0 1 2 5 Squad 2nd of 4 2 0 1 1 6 8
France1938 13th of 15 1 0 0 1 1 3 Squad 2nd of 4 2 1 1 0 4 3
Brazil1950 Withdrew Withdrew
Switzerland1954 Group stage 12th of 16 2 0 1 1 5 8 Squad 1st of 3 4 3 1 0 11 6
Sweden1958 Did not qualify 2nd of 3 4 2 1 1 16 11
Chile1962 3rd of 3 4 0 0 4 3 10
England1966 1st of 4, playoff loss 5 3 0 2 12 5
Mexico1970 Group stage 10th of 16 3 1 0 2 4 5 Squad 1st of 4 6 4 1 1 14 8
West Germany1974 Did not qualify 2nd of 4 6 4 2 0 12 0
Argentina1978 2nd of 4 6 3 0 3 7 6
Spain1982 Group stage 2 10th of 24 5 2 1 2 3 5 Squad 1st of 5 8 5 1 2 12 9
Mexico1986 Fourth place 4th of 24 7 2 2* 3 12 15 Squad 2nd of 4, playoff win 8 4 2 2 9 5
Italy1990 Round of 16 11th of 24 4 2 0 2 6 4 Squad 1st of 5 8 4 4 0 15 5
United States1994 11th of 24 4 2 0 2 4 4 Squad 2nd of 6 10 7 1 2 16 5
France1998 Group stage 19th of 32 3 0 3 0 3 3 Squad 2nd of 5, playoff win 10 7 1 2 23 13
South KoreaJapan2002 Round of 16 14th of 32 4 1 2 1 6 7 Squad 2nd of 5, playoff win 10 7 2 1 27 6
Germany2006 Did not qualify 4th of 6 10 3 3 4 16 11
South Africa2010 4th of 6 10 3 1 6 13 20
Brazil2014 Quarter-finals 6th of 32 5 4 0 1 6 3 Squad 1st of 6 10 8 2 0 18 4
Russia2018 Third place 3rd of 32 7 6 0 1 16 6 Squad 1st of 6 10 9 1 0 43 6
Qatar2022 Qualified To be determined
Total Third place 13/21 48 20 9 19 68 72 Total 133 77 25 31 277 141
Champions   Runners-up   Third place   Fourth place
* Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA european backing [edit ]

Scheme of football pitch with the line-ups of a red team in 4-4-2 formation against a white team in 5-3-2 formation (red) against West Germany Line-ups of the Euro 1980 final : Belgiumagainst West Germany With entirely five successful qualification campaigns out of fourteen, Belgium ‘s performance in the european backing does not compare to their World Cup record, yet it holds the highest record compare to their World Cup performance. Belgium has hosted or co-hosted the event twice ; they were chosen to accommodate the UEFA Euro 1972 from three candidates, [ fifty ] and hosted UEFA Euro 2000 with the Netherlands. [ 51 ] At Euro 1972, Belgium finished third after losing 1–2 against West Germany and beating Hungary 2–1. [ 36 ] The team ‘s best continental solution is their second plaza at Euro 1980 in Italy. By finishing as group winners, Belgium reached the final, to face West Germany. The west german Horst Hrubesch scored beginning, but René Vandereycken equalised courtesy of a punishment. Two minutes before the regular dally time ended, Hrubesch scored again denying Belgium a first european title. [ 41 ] At Euro 1984, in their concluding and decisive group match against Denmark, the belgian team took a 0–2 lead, but the Danes won the match 3–2. [ 50 ] Sixteen years late, Belgium automatically reappeared at UEFA ‘s national team tournament as co-hosts. After winning the Euro 2000 opener against Sweden 2–1, [ 230 ] two 2–0 losses against eventual runner-up Italy and Turkey eliminated the Belgians from the tournament by the goal of the group stage. [ 51 ] In hurt of winning with broad margins against the Republic of Ireland ( 3–0 ) and Hungary ( 0–4 ) at Euro 2016, [ 231 ] [ 232 ] Belgium exited in the quarter-finals. As during the tournament ‘s qualifiers, Wales defeated Belgium. This time by 3–1. [ 75 ]

Belgium’s UEFA European Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Pos. Pld W D L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
France1960 Did not enter Did not enter
Spain1964 Did not qualify Preliminary loss 2 0 0 2 2 4
Italy1968 2nd of 4 6 3 1 2 14 9
Belgium1972 Third place 3rd of 4 2 1 0 1 3 3 Squad Quarter-finals win 8 5 2 1 13 4
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia1976 Did not qualify 1st of 4, playoff loss 8 3 2 3 7 10
Italy1980 Runners-up 2nd of 8 4 1 2 1 4 4 Squad 1st of 5 8 4 4 0 12 5
France1984 Group stage 6th of 8 3 1 0 2 4 8 Squad 1st of 4 6 4 1 1 12 8
West Germany1988 Did not qualify 3rd of 5 8 3 3 2 16 8
Sweden1992 3rd of 4 6 2 1 3 7 6
England1996 3rd of 6 10 4 3 3 17 13
BelgiumNetherlands2000 Group stage 12th of 16 3 1 0 2 2 5 Squad Qualified as hosts
Portugal2004 Did not qualify 3rd of 5 8 5 1 2 11 9
AustriaSwitzerland2008 5th of 8 14 5 3 6 14 16
PolandUkraine2012 3rd of 6 10 4 3 3 21 15
France2016 Quarter-finals 7th of 24 5 3 0 2 9 5 Squad 1st of 6 10 7 2 1 24 5
Europe2020 5th of 24 5 4 0 1 9 3 Squad 1st of 6 10 10 0 0 40 3
Total Runners-up 6/16 21 11 2 9 31 28 Total 114 59 26 29 210 115
Champions   Runners-up   Third place/semi-finalists  

Summer Olympic Games [edit ]

Aerial play with two Belgian players and the Luxembourg keeper trying to touch the ball feverish phase during the goal-rich Olympic succeed against Luxembourg in 1928 ( 5–3 ) football tournaments for senior men ‘s national teams took rate in six Summer Olympics between 1908 and 1936. The belgian police squad participated in all three Olympic football tournaments in the 1920s and kept the aureate decoration at home at the 1920 edition. [ 24 ] [ 233 ] Apart from the proper national team, two other belgian delegations appeared at the Olympics. At the 1900 Summer Olympics, a belgian representation with chiefly students won bronze, [ 234 ] and at the 2008 edition, Belgium ‘s U-23 survival placed fourthly. [ 60 ] Belgium ‘s 1920 Olympic police squad was given a bye into the quarter-finals, where they won 3–1 against Spain, and reached the semi-finals, where they beat the Netherlands 3–0. In the first half of their final examination against Czechoslovakia, the Belgians led 2–0. [ 233 ] Forward Robert Coppée converted a disputed early on punishment, and the action in which attacker Henri Larnoe doubled the score was besides a matter of debate. [ 26 ] [ 187 ] After the dismissal of the Czechoslovak left-back Karel Steiner, the discontent visitors left the pitch in the fortieth minute. Afterwards, the away team reported their reasons for protest to the Olympic administration ; [ 26 ] these complaints were dismissed and the Czechoslovaks were disqualified. The 2–0 score was allowed to stand and Belgium were crowned the champions .
Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since 1992 (with three players of over 23 years of age allowed in the squad).

UEFA Nations League [edit ]

Belgium’s UEFA Nations League record
Year Division Round *
Portugal2018–19 A Group stage 5th 4 3 0 1 9 6 Same position
Italy2020–21 A Fourth place 4th 8 5 0 3 19 11 Same position
Total 2/2 12 8 0 4 28 17

FIFA ranking history [edit ]

source : [ 235 ] Belgium ‘s history in the FIFA World Rankings. The table shows the position that Belgium held in December of each year ( and the current position as of 2020 ), american samoa well as the highest and lowest positions annually .

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]

bibliography [edit ]

further learn [edit ]

  • Aerts, Bart; Buyse, Frank; Colin, François; Cornez, Pierre; Decoster, Gilles; Deferme, Dirk; et al. (2013). De Rode Duivels. Het officiële boek [The Red Devils. The official book] (in Dutch). Veurne: Uitgeverij Kannibaal. ISBN 978-94-91376-66-5.
  • Colin, François (2014). De Rode Duivels 1900–2014 [The Red Devils 1900–2014] (in Dutch). Veurne: Uitgeverij Kannibaal. ISBN 978-94-91376-77-1.
  • Hubert, Christian (1994). De Montevideo à Orlando [From Montevideo to Orlando] (in French). Brussels: Labor. ISBN 978-2-8040-1009-6.
  • Hubert, Christian (2006). Le siècle des Diables Rouges [The century of the Red Devils] (in French). Brussels: Luc Pire. ISBN 978-2-87415-684-7.