Belgium kicked off their preparation for the World Cup with a solid 5-1 win over neighbours Luxembourg on Monday. The game was another reminder of how things have changed for Belgian football. It wasn't long ago that Belgium games just didn't seem to matter. A crowd of 5,000 was a success. An absolute low came when Flemish television channels didn't even bother bidding for the rights to the qualification games for Euro 2008. Dutch speaking fans had to watch the games in French on RTL.
- Report: Lukaku hits hat trick
On to 2014. Belgium has gone completely Red Devils crazy. They are everywhere; from gas stations to milk cartons. There are scarves, hats, rattles, flags, t-shirts, make-up sets, books, videos and specials on television. You cannot go through the day without seeing a Red Devil or hearing about one. A special Red Devils Panini sticker book, with free stickers for every 25 euros spent at supermarket Carrefour has seen hysterical response. Belgium must be hell for football haters.
As far as the actual football is concerned, thousands flock to training sessions and the Luxembourg game sold out in no time. KRC Genk's Cristal Arena was awash with red on Monday. There were Mexican waves, there was chanting and singing. Even the other Red Devils, a Belgian air force stunt team, made an appearance with a fly-over. They should do it more often. As intimidation, it takes some beating.
Belgium started with their strongest eleven, bar goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was yet to join his teammates after playing in the Champions League final on Saturday. As second goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is recovering from a mild injury, Sammy Bossut made his debut in goal.
Even if it was "only Luxembourg", there were some positives to be taken from the game. Marouane Fellaini bossed the midfield in the dominant and aggressive manner Everton fans had become accustomed to but which Old Trafford is yet to witness. He intercepted early on and passed inch-perfect for Romelu Lukaku, who skillfully rounded the goalkeeper and struck a left-footed shot for 1-0 after two minutes and 33 seconds.
Belgium weren't convincing in that first half, and Luxembourg equalized after slack defending from Thomas Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany -- Aurelien Joachim's shot went in from some distance. Many felt that Bossut could have done better and it was a reminder of the importance of Courtois to this team.
But it was to be Lukaku's evening. He got his second midway through the first half after terrible defending by Luxembourg. Lukaku's Belgian critics were keen to point out that there was a clumsy moment in front of goal, but it must not be forgotten that this is a 20-year-old player we are talking about. He is not the finished product and no one claims that he is. However, I can't see many players of his young age scoring the goal that completed his hat-trick. After a dummy, he beat three players and fired home inside the near post.
Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots can't have been happy with the first half and he made several changes: Daniel Van Buyten, Anthony Vanden Borre, Steven Defour and Nacer Chadli came on for Kompany, Toby Alderweireld, Axel Witsel and Kevin Mirallas. But the player everybody was looking out for was Eden Hazard's replacement, Adnan Januzaj. There has been some discussion about his inclusion in the squad.
Januzaj has upset a portion of the Belgian fans with his long-delayed decision about his international career. But it is hard to blame him for thinking long and hard. Born and raised in Brussels, he is no less Belgian than Kompany, but he has a strong bond with his father's country, Kosovo. His uncles fought for the country's independence and he regularly visits his family there. He could also have chosen Turkey, Albania and even England, but it's hard to see how it could have ever not been between Belgium and Kosovo.
With the final decision so close to the World Cup, some called Januzaj's choice opportunist. Even if it is, he has every right to play for Belgium and if he continues the way he started, any reservations will soon be history. His first touch flattened his opponent and was followed by a perfect cross. There was plenty of good, technical, attacking football and Januzaj looks elegant and stylish.
It is hard to judge a player on one half of a game, but clearly Januzaj is a massive extra option for Belgium. With Lukaku up front and any combination of Hazard, Mirallas, Januzaj, Kevin De Bruyne and Dries Mertens in supply, no defence will be happy to face the Red Devils.
Another newcomer, Divock Origi, came on after an hour, replacing Lukaku, who must have gotten a big boost in confidence from his goals and the crowd's reaction. "The match ball is going home to sit next to the Manchester United one," he said post-match. Origi played well and after Chadli had made it 4-1 with a good goal, Origi forced a late penalty, which De Bruyne converted for 5-1.
All in all there was plenty to be happy about. There was some good football from Belgium, especially in the second half. Luxembourg manager Luc Holtz said his side had just played their strongest opponents in many years. Wilmots, however, wasn't happy about much except the result. He focused on the lacklustre first half but added: "I shouldn't be such a perfectionist. We have three weeks left, after all."
With friendly games against Sweden and Tunisia to come before the team finally fly to Brazil, things are heating up in Belgium. There's a clear anxiety for it to begin, so we can finally see what these players are really capable of on the biggest stage of them all. Some say it will all be over after three games. I'm thinking seven is also possible. Whether that seventh will be on a Saturday or a Sunday is anyone's guess.