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Belgium national football team

The Belgium national football team have a long history in international football. Their first official game was in 1904, a high scoring 3-3 draw with France. Although most footballers will associate the nickname The Red Devils with Manchester United, it is also the nickname given to the Belgium national football team. It came from their traditional shirt colour of red and was actually coined in 1906 after a 3-2 win over the Netherlands.

Over the next few decades the Belgium national football team developed themselves as a physical and organised side. They were never skilled enough to challenge for major honours but gave the bigger nations tough games at home as well as held their own in the big tournaments. They have made it to 12 world cup finals tournaments, and between 1982 and 2002 they qualified for six world cups in a row. During those six world cup tournaments they only failed to make it out of the group stage once.

World cup history

1930
1934
1938
1954
1970
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2014
2018
1930

Uruguay

The 1930 world cup was the first ever edition of FIFA’s showpiece tournament. Held in Uruguay the competition did not feature many of the top European sides because of the travel involved. The final came down to Uruguay and Argentina with the hosts coming out on top 4-2. The Belgium national football team did make the trip but they may have wished they hadn’t. They only played two games, a 3-0 loss to the United States and a 1-0 loss to Paraguay. They finished bottom of the group and were on their way home.

1934

Italy

Unlike in 1930 the teams competing in the 1934 world cup had to qualify. This time the tournament travelled to Europe and was held in Italy. Once again the tournament was won by the hosts as Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the final. Another change from four years previously was that the group stages were discarded in favour of a straight knockout phase. The Belgium national football team again did not fair well as they lost their first game and were eliminated. The team went down 5-2 to Germany.

1938

France

The 1938 world cup was once again on European soil, much to the frustration of the South American nations who expected it to return to them. Argentina and Uruguay even withdrew in protest. France hosted the tournament but did not win it. Italy managed to retain the championship after beating Hungary 4-2 in the final. Again the Belgium national football team played one and lost one as they were eliminated in the first round. This time it was neighbours France who beat them 3-1.

1954

Switzerland 

1954 was the fifth edition of the world cup because of the second world war. Group stages were back in fashion in Switzerland and the competition was eventually won by West Germany who beat Hungary 3-2 in the final. The Belgium national football team did manage a point this time but they still finished bottom of the group. A draw with England was followed up with a 4-1 loss to Italy.

1970

Mexico

It was not until 1970 that the Belgium national football team qualified again for a world cup. Mexico were the hosts which was the first time the tournament had been held in North America and the first time it had been outside of South America and Europe. This was finally the year where Belgium won their first ever world cup match but still did not manage to get out of the group stage. An opening 3-0 win over El Salvador was unfortunately followed up by two defeats against the Soviet Union and Mexico. The side at least did not finish bottom of the group.

1982

Spain

In 1982 the world cup machine travelled back to Europe and was hosted by Spain. Italy were once again lifting the trophy at the end, beating West Germany 3-1 in the final. 1982 proved to be a major upturn in fortunes for the Belgium national football team. Things began with a 1-0 win over reigning champions Argentina, and a 1-0 win over El Salvador. A final group stage draw against Hungary saw them progress for the first time, and also as top of the group. Group stages were very much in fashion as now we had two sets. The second one did not go as well as the first. A 3-0 loss to Poland was followed by a 1-0 loss to the Soviet Union and with that they were eliminated.

1986

Mexico

The 1986 world cup returned to Mexico. The tournament was eventually won by Argentina who defeated West Germany 3-2 in the final. The Belgium national football team again progressed through their group but it was a little closer than last time. A loss to Mexico in the opening game was followed up with a win and a draw which saw them qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Onto the last 16 and Belgium were up against the Soviet Union. In a dramatic game the two teams battled out a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes. There were three more goals in extra-time and Belgium eventually triumphed 4-3. It was even closer in the quarter final as Belgium once again squeezed through, this time on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Spain. By the semi-final the team had played back-to-back 120 minute matches and were against eventual winners Argentina. A 2-0 defeat saw them drop into the third-placed playoff against France. Another extra-time game saw them eventually lose 4-2 and finish fourth. This still represents the Belgium national football team’s best finish in a world cup to date.

1990

Italy

Italy were the hosts of the world cup in 1990. The final proved to be a reversal of four years previously with West Germany beating Argentina 1-0 in the final. This was the last time West Germany competed as the country reunified later that year. The Belgium national football team put in a strong performance in the group stage and had qualified after just two games. A final game defeat to Spain saw them lose out in the battle for top and progress in second place. This was as good as it got for Belgium as they lost out to England in the last 16.

1994

United States

The 1994 world cup was a tournament of firsts. Brazil won the competition and became the first team to win it four times. The final also went to penalties and became the first to be decided this way. Held in the United States the tournament also set a record for average attendance which still stands today. In a tight group the top three teams all finished on six points after two wins and a loss. The Belgium national football team progressed as a best third-placed team. Again it was the last 16 which proved to be the stumbling block for the side, although it was to Germany in a 3-2 defeat.

1998

France

The world cup in 1998 was in Europe and hosted by France. The hosts won the tournament after beating Brazil 3-0 in the final. The tournament was a set back for the Belgium national football team as they did not manage to progress from the group. They did not lose a game but they did not win one either. Three draws left them in third place and eliminated from the competition.

2002

Japan and South Korea

The 2002 world cup became the first to be held in Asia and the first to be jointly hosted by two countries. Japan and South Korea held the tournament which was won by Brazil for a record fifth time after they beat Germany 2-0 in the final. The Belgium national football team drew their opening two games but avoided a repeat of 1998 by winning the qualifying decider with Russia 3-2. Progressing in second place resulted in the team facing Brazil in the last 16 and you can guess the result. A 2-0 loss put them on the plane home.

2014

Brazil

The world cup travelled to Brazil in 2014, with Germany becoming the first European side to win the tournament in South America. The Belgium national football team performed well in the group stage. Three straight wins against Algeria, Russia and South Korea put them top of the table and into the next round. In the last 16 the side came up against the United States. After 90 minutes there was nothing to separate the two teams. Belgium took over in extra-time, and despite a nervous last few minutes, came through 2-1. The quarter final put them against Argentina. An early goal for Argentina was enough to settle the game 1-0 and put Belgium out of the competition. Argentina went on to finish as runners-up in the tournament.

2018

Russia

The Belgium national football team are in Group H alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia, and Cyprus.

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