To achieve this, we will have to get the best of four teams with different styles and the toughest opponent should be Wales, which Belgium knows well: “We have been used to meeting them for several years. Obviously, 2016 remains the big black spot regarding our confrontations but afterward it went rather well. They have a team that has changed, relatively young, a lot of enthusiasm, that should not create problems for our team“.
However, it is the same Wales who crushed Belgian hopes in the quarter-final of Euro 2016. But this elimination has no impact on the current group: “In the Belgian people, probably, but in the core, I don’t think so. Few players were present at that time, I even wonder if there is still one present, probably Lukaku, De Bruyne and Courtois if he comes back“.
Conversely, Liechtenstein will act as a novelty, but if the change of scenery will be present, it will above all be necessary to remain serious: “A beautiful trip in perspective. To discover, it’s something new for everyone. We will have to take these matches very seriously and make the difference very quickly and from then on, it will be a walk in the park.“.
North Macedonia, on the other hand, has already been invited to the road of the Red Devils, notably during qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, with two Belgian victories to boot. “About ten years ago, things went well because we had a quality team, an exceptional team with talent in all linesretrace Philippe Albert. But we must remain realistic and we will have to face it twice but we must not fear it. We must respect it as in any professional sport, but if the Devils do the job properly, there is no problemi”.
The trip to Kazkhstan seems, for its part, the most perilous, with the time difference and the synthetic pitch of the Astana Stadium which hosts the national team’s matches. But there is no reason to worry for Philippe Albert either: “It is up to the federation to take its responsibilities and leave one or two days earlier to adapt properly. And we will also have to see the match schedule. If the difference is made at that time, it will perhaps be an opportunity to try certain things with other players“.
If Wales will be the Devils’ main opponent, Philippe Albert does not expect complicated qualifiers for Belgium: “It’s quite logical, but if we have to start being afraid of such opponents at the moment… It’s for a World Cup and obviously we’re going to finish first“.
