Belgium’sgolden generationready to come of age

NAME five famous Belgians ... it’s an old jibe.

But the boys from Belgium are ready to have the last laugh.

The greatest show on earth will get underway next week in Russia.

And the Belgians will attempt to do what England couldn’t between 2002 and 2010 – lift the World Cup with a so-called “golden generation”.

Every four years one nation emerges with a special vintage of talent.

This time round it just happens to be Belgium.

The list of Belgian football legends is pretty small – although JeanMarie Pfaff, Paul van Himst, Eric Gerets, Jan Ceulemans, Enzo Scifo, Michel Preud’homme, Nico Claesen and Francois van der Elst all enjoyed varying degrees of success.

They were part of sides that finished runners-up to Germany at Euro 1980 and reached the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup.

But the current crop could be ready to put them in the shade.

Belgium topped the FIFA world rankings for the first time in November 2015. And they currently lie third behind world champions Germany and Brazil.

Boss Roberto Martinez possesses a group of players who should be at the peak of their powers.

One glance at his squad is enough to put the wind up any opposition – England included. The Red Devils are brimming with world-class talent.

Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Kevin de Bruyne, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Adian Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Axel Witsel, Michy Batshuayi, Nacer Chadli, Romelu Lukaku and last – but certainly not least – Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata.

On paper it is a World Cup-winning side. When you consider Roma’s Radja Nainggolan and Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke failed to make the cut it shows the riches Martinez has at his disposal.

A solitary draw against Greece prevented Belgium winning all 10 qualifiers with Manchester United hitman Lukaku leading the way with 11 strikes and Chelsea’s Hazard weighing in with six goals and five assists.

But the over-riding feeling in Belgium is this team lack the killer instinct to lift world football’s ultimate prize.

The same squad under-achieved at the last World Cup and Euro 2016 where they lost 3-1 to Wales in the quarters.

For Russia 2018, the Belgians have been

Martinez has a group of players who should be at peak of their powers

drawn in Group G alongside England, Panama and Tunisia.

Qualification for the knockouts shouldn’t be a problem. But if Belgium finish ahead of England and top Group G then Brazil could await in the quarter-finals.

If they finish second they are likely to face Germany in the last eight.

If Belgium can overcome such a significant hurdle they stand a real chance of winning the tournament.

Martinez men are 11-1 shots with the bookie to triumph in Russia.

Name five famous Belgians?

There could well be 23 of them come Sunday, July 15 in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, including Boyata. OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT