CHELSEA!!!! Sarri

[Cicjose]

GK Simon Mignolet

Backs: Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany, Daniel Van Buyten

Mids: Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard

Fwds: Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku

Bench: Thibaut Courtois, Guillaume Gillet, Axel Witsel, Kevin Mirallas

that's a world class squad of players to choose from

[elephants]

Kevin De Bruyne also a gun ;)

You could make a decent case for Courtois to start!

[Nige]

I remember getting the chance to coach the Belgium National side in FIFA13.  ;D

[CrowsFan]

What's simple is that any team from Belgium will always only ever be a Smokie or a world cup

Is that simple enough for you? :o

Tbag you seriously are an idiot. How can a team that is ranked 6th in the world be considered a smokey? I offer facts, you offer your biased opinions to discussions. ::)

[Tominator]

Belgium have been my tip as World Cup smokies since about March. Very very VERY good squad, all young too!

If they get a good draw they could go far in the WC, they are ranked 6th in the world for a reason

Wouldn't really call them smokies considering they are 5th favourite with Sportsbet to win the comp ;)

they were smokies back in March, nobody thought of them as a big threat, now everybody is jumping on the bandwagon ;)

[Nige]

I jumped on the bandwagon before jumping on the Belgian bandwagon was kewl.

[tbagrocks]

What's simple is that any team from Belgium will always only ever be a Smokie or a world cup

Is that simple enough for you? :o

Tbag you seriously are an idiot. How can a team that is ranked 6th in the world be considered a smokey? I offer facts, you offer your biased opinions to discussions. ::)

Yeah yeah bla blah be a jerk I don't care ::)

So naive ::)  Of course they are a smokie ::)  Just an excuse for you to call me an idiot? Bet you wouldn't say that to my face! Stupid Nerd

[CrowsFan]

What's simple is that any team from Belgium will always only ever be a Smokie or a world cup

Is that simple enough for you? :o

Tbag you seriously are an idiot. How can a team that is ranked 6th in the world be considered a smokey? I offer facts, you offer your biased opinions to discussions. ::)

Yeah yeah bla blah be a jerk I don't care ::)

So naive ::)  Of course they are a smokie ::)  Just an excuse for you to call me an idiot? Bet you wouldn't say that to my face! Stupid Nerd

Again no constructive argument to add to the discussion, just... "So naive, of course they are a smokey". Seriously what the flower you are actually an imbecile? You are the most bias person going around, you don't recognise facts when they are staring you in the face and you won't ever admit you a wrong, which is a worry since you are most of the time. I am actually ashamed we support the same footy team.

Stupid nerd is a bit of an oxymoron isn't it? Stupid meaning lack of intelligence, nerd meaning someone who is smart. Makes no sense, just like everything you post. Why am I a nerd by the way? Because I attend university? Yep that certainly makes me a nerd because I want to do something good with my life and help other people. flower you're just a stupid idiot (and yes I would say that to your face). Such a nerd because I'm doing a 200km bike ride to help cancer research and treatment. Such a nerd because I have represented my state in sports. Such a nerd because I have friends and go out drinking. Such a nerd because I am going to be more successful than you.

But I guess you are calling me a nerd, because I can actually formulate coherent sentences and form arguments, that I can back up with facts and figures, not just bias opinions and ignorance. Yep I'm a nerd!

But to get back on topic... Any team in any sport that is ranked 6th in the world can not be considered to be a smokey for a tournament. They are a frontrunner for the cup, which is why all betting agencies have the odds on them winning the cup so low. They also have one of the youngest teams going around, so within a year they will be even better. I would not be surprised if they were ranked in the top 4 by the time the world cup comes around, but yep they will still be a smokey.

In their most recent qualifying match the average age of their starting XI was just 25, and that was without players like Hazard, Lukaku, Dembele even playing, yet they still won easily.

I look forward to your response of "they are smokies ::) nerd"

[tbagrocks]

More successful than me? Dream on!

Is Belgium do win it, it would be one of the biggest boilovers in sport, therefore they are a smokie

Thirdly, you're just a smart ass! Doing heroic things doesn't change that! You will never be more successful than me with that sort of attitude

I call you a nerd because you think your academic intelligence gives you a right to make fun of lest gifted on a forum ::)

[CrowsFan]

More successful than me? Dream on!

Is Belgium do win it, it would be one of the biggest boilovers in sport, therefore they are a smokie

Thirdly, you're just a smart ass! Doing heroic things doesn't change that! You will never be more successful than me with that sort of attitude

I call you a nerd because you think your academic intelligence gives you a right to make fun of lest gifted on a forum ::)

2 years ago Belgium would have been considered a smokey to win the 2014 WC, but they have proved recently that they are one of the best nations going around, therefore not a smokey anymore. Previously a smokey, now a strong contender.

I never said that doing those things made me heroic, was merely pointing out that so called "nerds" would most likely not go on 200km bike rides, play representative sports etc. The definition of a nerd is "a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious", which is clearly not me. You are the only person who has ever called me a nerd, the majority of my life I have been termed a "jock" instead, which again is not a very apt description of me because that would imply I'm only interested in sport and not academia. Alternatively another definition for nerd is "an intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession", which if you think about it, it is actually a compliment to call someone a nerd if that is what you are implying. Sadly I am not a nerd by that definition yet either, but perhaps one day I will be if I continue my studies.

I never once said that my academic intelligence gave me a right to make for of lest gifted people, to that point I don't even see where I have made fun of anyone. I have pointed out facts to back up my opinions and tried to have a constructive discussion, but that clearly doesn't work when talking with you. Talking about intelligence I never said I was the smartest either, I'm sure there are plenty of more intelligent people on this forum. Case in point any member who does not bother responding to your drivel.

Just a question though tbag because I am interested. When you or your family members are sick and the doctor treats them, do you call them a nerd?

[elephants]

I jumped on the bandwagon before jumping on the Belgian bandwagon was kewl.

I was on Belgium in mid 2011 when we were naming euros teams!

Belgian Bashers with Vincent Kompany as #1 ticket holder.

Surely I win ;)

[Tominator]

I jumped on the bandwagon before jumping on the Belgian bandwagon was kewl.

I was on Belgium in mid 2011 when we were naming euros teams!

Belgian Bashers with Vincent Kompany as #1 ticket holder.

Surely I win ;)

we rated Belgium before it was mainstream ... I guess you could say we're hipsters?  8)

[Nige]

I jumped on the bandwagon before jumping on the Belgian bandwagon was kewl.

I was on Belgium in mid 2011 when we were naming euros teams!

Belgian Bashers with Vincent Kompany as #1 ticket holder.

Surely I win ;)

we rated Belgium before it was mainstream ... I guess you could say we're hipsters?  8)

Calling things mainstream is mainstream, and so is being hipster.  :P

[Tominator]

Have a look at Belgium - http://www.national-football-teams.com/country/20/2013/Belgium.html


GK - Courtois (21 years old)
DEF - Vertonghen (26), Kompany (27), Vermaelen (27), Alderweireld (24)
MID - Witsel (24), Fellaini (25), De Bruyne (22)
ATT - Hazard (22), Lukaku (20), Mirallas (26)

BENCH - Mignolet (25), Lombearts (28), Dembele (26), Defour (25), Benteke (22), Mertens (26), Chadli (24)


That is a very good squad. Very young too, and a large majority of those players are first choice players at clubs playing in Champions/Europa Leagues

They are in a very strong position for mounting serious challenges for the 2014/18 WCs and Euro 2016

[Jukes]

---------------Butland/Hart--------------
Walker---Jones---Smalling---Gibbs
-----------Cleverly---Wilshere----------
Oxlad-----------Barkley----------Januzaj
------------------Sturridge------------------

+Zaha, Welbeck, McEachran, Shelvey...

The number of potential world class players is almost uncountable. Incredible. Is there a country that comes close? Germany maybe, at a stretch.

England confirmed for Euro 2016 and 2020 and World Cups 2018 and 2022 winners.