The draw for the 2018 World Cup has put England together with Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G of the competition and pits Gareth Southgate against a manager who is very well-known to the English football public.
Belgium have gone into the last two major tournaments with many people tipping their squad, laden with Premier-League stars, to perform well but quarter-final exits at Brazil 2014 and France 2016 saw Marc Wilmots’ time in charge of the side come to an end.
Perhaps surprisingly, Roberto Martinez was named as his successor despite not previously having managerial experience at international level.
The Spaniard, initially successful at Everton on the back of his time at Wigan Athletic, had left the Premier League with few Toffees supporters mourning his departure but his initial task of steering Belgium through their qualifying group was achieved with some aplomb, certainly in contrast to England’s leaden progress.
The Red Devils scored 43 goals in their 10 matches, unsurprisingly perhaps given the attacking talent at their disposal but Martinez was given credit for utilising that prowess at its most effective by deploying a 3-4-2-1 system.
In their initial assessment of the teams heading to Russia, World Soccer magazine wonders whether there is a Plan B for when Belgium come up against tougher opposition and also whether this season’s standout Premier League performer, Kevin de Bruyne, can show his quality to full effect for his national team.