MERTENS STILL HAUNTED BY WALES

BELGIUM star Dries Mertens says the pain of losing to Wales at Euro 2016 will drive them on at the World Cup.

Roberto Martinez’s highlyrated side take on Japan tomorrow but are well aware that they have come up short in previous tournaments.

Mertens, who is likely to be back alongside Eden Hazard in support of Romelu Lukaku after Martinez fielded a virtual reserve team against England, said the players knew they had to deliver.

The Red Devils were fancied to do well at the Euros in France two years ago, but they were dumped out 3-1 by a Gareth Bale-inspired Wales side in the quarter-finals.

Mertens said: “Remember the Wales game? Everyone thought we’d go through – we went out.

“We have that on our minds and it gives us strength.” Belgium go into tomorrow’s game full of confidence after topping their group and will have Lukaku available again after an ankle injury.

Positive

“The opportunity of facing Japan with the mentality that the group has is a very positive moment for us,” Martinez said.

“They are going to be a competitive team. They know how to hurt you on the counterattack.”

It is the first big competitive test of Martinez’s two years of trying to turn a ‘golden generation’ of individual talents with big egos at club level into a national side which can finally live up to its top-five FIFA world ranking.

With nine goals and nine points from their three group games, the Belgians are going into the final stages buzzing.

And they are refusing to regret a victory over England that leaves them in what appears to be a much tougher half of the draw, which includes Brazil and France.

“There’s a real belief,” the Spaniard said.

“There is no margin of error... but we are going to do what we believe in.”