Marc Wilmots has announced to the Belgium FA and squad that he will not be staying at Belgium after his present contract ends It was aannounced at the press conference that Stephen Holland will be the next Belgium manager
Holland during his Chelsea days
Marc Wilmots is leaving Belgium on after one year in charge of the first team and the FA has also decided that his successor will be Stephen Holland. Wilmots announced his decision this Friday morning to the Belgium FA and the squad just before training at there. Afterwards the FA gave a press conference in the pressroom in the King Baudoin Stadium. It was a hugely attended affair, , along with the four captains in representation of the players and a large number of media professionalsFrancis De Keersmaecker was responsible for announcing the decision to the public, whereupon he expressed his “eternal gratitude” to the coach for the “happiness” he has given the club by “perfecting a model that should never be questioned again.” The outgoing manager himself named exhaustion as his main reason for deciding to leave, but sure that he could do so “with the feeling of a job well done”.Keersmaecker then announced who the next Belgium manager will be, a decision made by the coaching staff and ratified by the Board. Stephen Holland is the chosen man, and KeersMaecker explained the reasons why.
Vermaelen Vertonghen Kompany Vanden Borre
Fellaini Nainggolan
Dembele Hazard Chadli
Slovenia got off to a bright start with Novakovic ball finding Matavz who then fired it low and hard to make it 1-0. Bacinovic's then gave a short pass to Vrsic and he struck it from a tight angel forcing Courtois to make a fine save. The opening scorer Matavz was in the action again with a pass to Josep Ilicic but he's shot went flying just wide. Hazard then beat Ilic down the wing he then sent in a great cross to find Chelsea team mate Romelu Lukaku who pulled it back leaving Suler in his wake but his shot was sent straight to Handanovic. Everton star Marouane Fellani then send a long ball deep to Hazard who struck a half volley but it went well wide. Just before the break Novakovic then pulled it back to Bacinovic drove it past Courtois.
Caused Belgium trouble in the first half
Early in the second half Borre brought down Brecko outside the box and a free kick was awarded. Vrsic sent the ball into the box and Cesar beat he's man but it just went over the bar. Fellani then had a great first touch giving a short pass to Nainggolan. Brecko then out paced Vanden Borre who sent a long ball in but Ilic's shot powered over the bar. Novakovic then took a free kick from the edge of the area with it going well over the bar. Ilicic then had he's second chance of the match with a powerful header just going over. Lukaku then got the ball at the end of the box and his shot made Handanovic make a powerful save. Belgium kept the pressure on with Eden Hazard sending a corner to Vermaelan put it was just saved and out for a corner. Eden Hazard then got past the defence and stroked it past Handanovic to make it 2-1. It finshed that way with Slovenia getting a surprise win over Belgium
Belgium got off to a bright start with Witsel sending in a cross finding the head Pocognoli who couldn't keep he's header down. Azerbaijen had there first chance of the match with Ismayilov hitting a cracking shot but it was easily saved by Courtois. Aliyev had he's first bit of action of the match with Nainggolan hitting a hard shot into the bottom corner forcing him to make a fine save to knock it out for a corner. Hazard swong in the corner to find Captain Kompany who just missed. Belgium were felling there first bit of real pressure with them passing the ball outside there box. Abbasov got to end of a little chip from Abdullayev to make it 1-0 sending Belgium fans into silence. Nainggolan had his second shot of the night hitting a volley which Aliyev tipped over the bar. Hazard took the corner finding Kompany again this time he hit bar. Just before the break another corner was awarded with Hazard once agin finding Kompany who forced Aliyev into a fine save.
Courtois after Abbsov's goals
Belgium kept there pressure on Azerbaijen with Witsel hitting a strong volley but Aliyev easily saved. Axel Witsel sent a lovely through ball to Hazard who powered it home to level it up. Nainggolan then knocked a lovely ball to unmarked Pocognoli pulled past the last defender and slotted it home. Not much happened in the next twenty minutes. Witsel sent a cross to Lukaku who powered it over. Ismayilov got the end of a cross but miss hit but it was close to beating Courtois. Fellani gave a short pass to Witsel. Witsel then took a powerful shot sending it out.
Heh...thought about managing Belgium myself because they just fired their previous manager in my game(H)...looking forward to seeing what you can do with them
Heh...thought about managing Belgium myself because they just fired their previous manager in my game(H)...looking forward to seeing what you can do with them
It took a half a hour before there was a chance with Fellani’s shot driving off the post coming back off Howard into the back of the net to make it 1-0. USA won a corner and beasley gave a cross to edge of the area to Donavan who curled he’s off the post and out. USA had another chance with Edu playing a wonderful ball to Donavan but he could not keep it down. Donavan had another chance before half time but failed to make it count and sent it down the middle.
Howard after his own goal
The second half kicked off and it took 10 minutes for a chance with a Beasley corner finding Goodson who hit the bar. In the 68th minute Vossen pulled the ball back to Fellani who smashed it in. Witsel brought down Edu just outside the box and Bocanegra stepped up for the free kick. Just going over the bar. Donavan then got through on goal but Courtois made a fine save but Findley followed it up and scored it. Onyewu had a late chance to pull it back level with a header but he drove it over the bar. Vossen shot drove off the crossbar and Eden Hazard made it 3 from 3 driving it past Howard.
Belgium kicked off and straight away won a corner. Hazard sent in a high cross finding Kompany who headed it home. Ten minutes in Nainggolan gave a short pass to Lukaku who then powered a shot that just went over the bar. It was 2-0 Vanden Boree sent in a cross which went over the head but Hazard volleyed it into the back of the net. Vanden Borre was brought down outside the box after twenty nine minutes and Hazard’s free kick forced Vikhlyanov to make a good save. Just before half time Pocognali got free in the penalty area but he’s shot went flying over.
Holland after Hazard's goal
The second half kicked off and Belgium started off the same way as the first half with a first team shot from Nainggolan beating the keeper. Kazakstan had there first chance of the match with Kalinin hit a powerful header just going over. 71 minutes in Witsel lobbed the defence but Lukaku couldn’t get to it. Vermaelan picked up a knock and was down but Kazakstan played on and Romanov banged it in. Very late on Hazard struck a free kick in finding Kompany who scored his second.
A win was needed and Turkey to slip up was needed to qualify was needed.
Belgium kicked off but Germany struck first with Schuster striking it off the post and past Courtois. Schulz beat Fellani in the air and took a shot straight away luckily it skimmed the crossbar. Arda Turan has made it 1-0 over in Istanbul after 18 Minutes. Schuster had another chance with a diving header being saved by Courtois. It’s all level in the Turkey game with Ismayilov scoring the Belgium fans have livened up. Schuster has scored again hitting the crossbar and in. Belgium look to be out. Legear had a great chance just before half time but drove it over.
A member of the German team celebrating
The second half kicked off and Germany started well again with Lenz finding Weinecker who drove it in but it was ruled for offside. Hazard came flying down the wing a minute later pulling it back to Nainggolan who drove it in. Lukaku got through on goal but he miss hit it and it went wide. Bulut has put Turkey ahead the fans have quieted down. Schuster has got his hat trick with a cracking volley past Courtois. Yilmaz has killed it off Turkey will be in the play offs. Lukaku had another chance curling his shot forcing Wolf to make a great save. Legear hit a high cross in finding Kompany who headed home. Nainggolan and Lukaku kept the pressure on Germany but failed to score. Hazard and Lukaku had the last two chances but failing. The final whistle was blown and Belgium would not be taking part in this years Euro’s.
World Cup 2014 (Qual) Part 1 Belgium 1-1 Serbia Lukaku 94, Vermaelen 10 OG Assists: Hazard, Milijas Injures/Reds: Anthony Vanden Borre (2 Yellows),Kevin Miralles (Inj) Man of the Match: Romelu Lukaku
