WORLDIE CUP!

Qatar will be No.1

EXCLUSIVE BY

ROBERTO MARTINEZ reckons this year’s World Cup could be the best in history.

The Belgium boss believes that the tournament in Qatar could see more players than ever performing at their optimum levels as a result of where it falls in the football calendar.

He also thinks that many of them will arrive in the Middle East with uncluttered minds.

And not carrying the mental baggage of having missed out on silverware at the end of an exhausting season.

“You look at those June camps before a World Cup and players are coming in from a demanding environment – particularly those players at clubs demanding to win the league or the Champions League,” said the former Everton manager.

“Don’t forget the mental fatigue of a player after 10 months, particularly those who have experienced the high of winning the Champions League or the low of losing a Champions League final.

“That can have a big impact on a player going into a major tournament. Now, every player is heading over to Qatar with a positive mindset

– and fresh minds.

“The very top players are starting to be involved in big competitions, but they haven’t had those disappointing moments that you get in February, March or April.

“Then you might have lost a quarter-final or a semi-final of a domestic competition, or in the Champions League.

“From that point of view, I think it might be one of the best major tournaments.

“Players will arrive in Qatar with their heads clear. They’re not carrying the baggage that they might otherwise have been carrying going into a normal World Cup.”

Belgium go into this tournament as one of the favourites, although there will be a nagging feeling their best opportunity of winning a World Cup might have already passed.

They reached the last four in Russia, before losing to France in Saint

Petersburg.

A goal from Samuel Umtiti ended Belgian hopes of a first World Cup Final appearance.

Martinez’s side went on to beat England in the third-place playoff, winning 2-0 at the same venue the day before France were crowned winners for the second time.

They have since missed out on the European title, beaten by eventual winners Italy in

Munich last summer at the quarter-final stage.

Now, though, he hopes that the scheduling of the tournament will see stars such as Kevin De Bruyne (below), Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard in the best shape possible to shine on the global stage.

“Of course, in terms of preparation for the national team, we only have a week to get the team together,” said Martinez.

“But we’ve had the September camp and, in Qatar, it will be a case of trying to grow within the tournament.

“Of course, you don’t get that five-week period you usually have between the end of a domestic season and the start of the competition.

“But that’s no bad thing. I think that the players might actually prefer things this way around.

“Whatever happens, it’s going to be a World Cup unlike any we’ve seen in the past.”

‘Every player is

heading over to Qatar with

a positive mindset – and

fresh minds’