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Belgium at the FIFA World Cup

Belgium have appeared in the finals tournament of the FIFA World Cup on 14 occasions, the first being at the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 where they finished in 11th place and played the first ever World Cup match against the United States. The inaugural FIFA World Cup final was officiated by Belgian referee John Langenus.

Belgium national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

Traditionally, Belgium's greatest rival is the Netherlands. The two countries have met each other twice in the history of the FIFA World Cup, with one win for Belgium (USA 1994) and one draw (France 1998). The team that has played the most against Belgium in the finals is the continuum USSR-Russia: five times, with three victories for Belgium and two for the Soviet Union.[1]

Belgium's best finish in the World Cup is third, at the Russia 2018 tournament. Belgium previously finished fourth in the Mexico 1986 competition.

Images of Belgium's first World Cup match in 1930, against the United States
In their golden era, Belgium featured two goalkeepers who were named the best at that position in the World Cup; Jean-Marie Pfaff (left) in 1986 and Michel Preud'homme (right) in 1994.

FIFA World Cup record

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Belgian's first five appearances at the FIFA World Cup between 1930 and 1970 were not successful, as they failed to advance beyond the first round. After two scoreless defeats at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, Belgium scored their first two World Cup goals in 1934 against Germany, by virtue of Bernard Voorhoof. However, both in 1934 and 1938 the Red Devils went out with a single loss. In 1954 they held England to a draw (4–4) and in 1970 they achieved their first World Cup win, against El Salvador (3–0).

Belgium reached six successive World Cups from 1982 through 2002 by playing qualification rounds, a record bettered only by Spain whose 2018 World Cup is their ninth consecutive qualification (a streak going back to 1986). Every other nation with an equal or longer string of appearances has had the streak "interrupted" by automatic qualification as the host or the defending champion (the 2006 tournament was the first for which the defending champion does not automatically qualify). On top of that, in that era the Belgian team reached the second phase five out of six times.

Their fourth-place finish in the 1986 was their best placement in their World Cup history, until 2018 when they finished third after beating England (2-0) in Saint Petersburg.

1930 FIFA World Cup

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   United States 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 4 Advance to the knockout stage
2   Paraguay 2 1 0 1 1 3 −2 2
3   Belgium 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0
Source: ESPN
United States  3–0  Belgium
McGhee   23'[2]
Florie   45'[2]
Patenaude   69'[2]		 Report
Attendance: 10,000
Paraguay  1–0  Belgium
Vargas Peña   40'[2] Report
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Attendance: 900

1934 FIFA World Cup

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The group stage used in the first World Cup was discarded in favour of a straight knockout tournament.

  Germany5 – 2  Belgium
Kobierski   25'
Siffling   49'
Conen   66', 70', 87'		 Report Voorhoof   29', 43'
Attendance: ~8,000

1938 FIFA World Cup

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France  3–1  Belgium
Veinante   1'
Nicolas   16', 69'		 Report Isemborghs   38'
Attendance: 30,454

1954 FIFA World Cup

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According to journalist Henry Guldemont, some of his Swiss colleagues regarded the 1954 Belgian team as "favourites for the world title" after a promising 4–4 opener against England.[3][4] However, in the second and last group match against Italy, Belgium was defeated 1–4 and was unable to proceed to the finals.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   England 2 1 1 0 6 4 +2 3 Advance to the knockout stage
2    Switzerland 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 2[a]
3   Italy 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 2[a]
4   Belgium 2 0 1 1 5 8 −3 1
Source: FIFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Second place decided over through play-off: Switzerland 4–1 Italy
England  4–4 (a.e.t.)  Belgium
Broadis   26', 63'
Lofthouse   36', 91'		 Report Anoul   5', 71'
Coppens   67'
Dickinson   94' (o.g.)
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Emil Schmetzer (West Germany)
Italy  4–1  Belgium
Pandolfini   41' (pen.)
Galli   48'
Frignani   58'
Lorenzi   78'		 Report Anoul   81'
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Carl Erich Steiner (Austria)

1970 FIFA World Cup

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Soviet Union 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 5[a] Advance to knockout stage
2   Mexico 3 2 1 0 5 0 +5 5[a]
3   Belgium 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 2
4   El Salvador 3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 0
Source: FIFA
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Having finished level on both points and goal difference, the Soviet Union and Mexico were separated by the drawing of lots. Goals scored was not used as the tiebreaker by chance.
Belgium  3–0  El Salvador
Van Moer   12', 54'
Lambert   76' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 92,205
Soviet Union  4–1  Belgium
Byshovets   14', 63'
Asatiani   57'
Khmelnytskyi   76'		 Report Lambert   86'
Attendance: 95,261
Mexico  1–0  Belgium
Peña   14' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 108,192

1982 FIFA World Cup

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In the first game of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, held at Camp Nou, Belgium celebrated one of their most famous victories: a 0–1 win over defending champions Argentina with a goal by Erwin Vandenbergh. After pushing through to the second group stage of that tournament, Belgium was stunned by a Polish hat-trick from Zbigniew Boniek. The decisive match against the Soviet Union ended in a 0–1 loss.

Group 3

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Belgium 3 2 1 0 3 1 +2 5 Advance to second round
2   Argentina 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 4
3   Hungary 3 1 1 1 12 6 +6 3
4   El Salvador 3 0 0 3 1 13 −12 0
Source: FIFA
Argentina  0–1  Belgium
Report Vandenbergh   62'
Attendance: 95,500
Belgium  1–0  El Salvador
Coeck   19' Report
Attendance: 15,000
Belgium  1–1  Hungary
Czerniatynski   76' Report Varga   27'
Attendance: 37,000
Referee: Clive White (England)

Group A

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Poland 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 3 Advance to knockout stage
2   Soviet Union 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 3
3   Belgium 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0
Source: FIFA
Poland  3–0  Belgium
Boniek   4', 26', 53' Report
Attendance: 65,000
Belgium  0–1  Soviet Union
Report Oganesian   48'
Attendance: 45,000

1986 FIFA World Cup

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Four years later they achieved their best World Cup run to that point when they placed fourth at Mexico 1986. Picked up as the best third-placed team, in the knockout phase Belgium surprisingly won against favourites Soviet Union after extra time (3–4). Different from the previous World Cup, the Red Devils were able to surmount an opponent's hat-trick (this time from Igor Belanov), something that only Brazil and Austria achieved as well in World Cup history (respectively in 1938 and 1954).[5] Belgium also beat Spain on penalties after a 1–1 draw, but they conceded a 2–0 loss against eventual champions Argentina in the semifinal - both goals scored by football icon Diego Maradona. In the third-place match Belgium lost to France (4–2) after extra time. Captain and midfielder Jan Ceulemans and goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff were the first Belgian players to be selected in the All-Star Team of a World Cup. Enzo Scifo was elected as best young player of the tournament.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Mexico (H) 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2 5 Advance to knockout stage
2   Paraguay 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1 4
3   Belgium 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 3
4   Iraq 3 0 0 3 1 4 −3 0
Source: FIFA
(H) Hosts
Belgium  1–2  Mexico
Vandenbergh   45' Report Quirarte   23'
Sánchez   39'
Attendance: 110,000
Iraq  1–2  Belgium
Radhi   59' Report Scifo   16'
Claesen   21' (pen.)
Attendance: 20,000
Paraguay  2–2  Belgium
Cabañas   50', 76' Report Vercauteren   30'
Veyt   59'
Attendance: 16,000
Soviet Union  3–4 (a.e.t.)  Belgium
Belanov   27', 70', 111' (pen.) Report Scifo   56'
Ceulemans   77'
Demol   102'
Claesen   110'
Attendance: 32,277
Spain  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Belgium
Señor   85' Report Ceulemans   35'
Penalties
Señor  
Eloy  
Chendo  
Butragueño  
Víctor  		 4 – 5   Claesen
  Scifo
  Broos
  Vervoort
  L. Van Der Elst
Attendance: 45,000
Argentina  2–0  Belgium
Maradona   51', 63' Report
Attendance: 114,500
France  4–2 (a.e.t.)  Belgium
Ferreri   27'
Papin   43'
Genghini   104'
Amoros   111' (pen.)		 Report Ceulemans   11'
Claesen   73'
Attendance: 21,000

1990 FIFA World Cup

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In the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Belgium survived the group phase by wins against South Korea and Uruguay (2–0 and 3–1). In the second round they did well against England, dominating the match by periods and with Enzo Scifo even hitting the woodwork twice.[6] With a persisting 0–0 penalties seemed unavoidable, but eventually they lost in the last minute of extra time after a "nearly blind" volley by David Platt.[7] Scifo was elected as second best player of the 1990 World Cup after Lothar Matthäus.[8]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Spain 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 5 Advance to knockout stage
2   Belgium 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 4
3   Uruguay 3 1 1 1 2 3 −1 3
4   South Korea 3 0 0 3 1 6 −5 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Belgium  2–0  South Korea
Degryse   53'
De Wolf   64'		 Report
Attendance: 32,790
Referee: Vincent Mauro (United States)
Belgium  3–1  Uruguay
Clijsters   16'
Scifo   22'
Ceulemans   48'		 Report Bengoechea   74'
Attendance: 33,759
Belgium  1–2  Spain
Vervoort   28' Report Míchel   20' (pen.)
Górriz   38'
Attendance: 35,950
England  1–0 (a.e.t.)  Belgium
Platt   119' Report
Attendance: 34,520

1994 FIFA World Cup

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In the 1994 FIFA World Cup two 1–0 wins in round 1 against Morocco and the Netherlands were remarkably not enough to finish second, but Belgium advanced as they were among the best four third-placed teams. In the second round they lost to title defenders Germany (3–2). During this last game, the Belgians were frustrated that Swiss referee Kurt Röthlisberger had not awarded them a penalty kick when German defender Thomas Helmer brought down their striker Josip Weber in the penalty area with a bump from behind.[9] After the match, Röthlisberger was sent home. Michel Preud'homme was elected as best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Netherlands 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   Saudi Arabia 3 2 0 1 4 3 +1 6
3   Belgium 3 2 0 1 2 1 +1 6
4   Morocco 3 0 0 3 2 5 −3 0
Source: FIFA
Belgium  1–0  Morocco
Degryse   11' Report
Attendance: 61,219
Belgium  1–0  Netherlands
Albert   65' Report
Attendance: 62,387
Belgium  0–1  Saudi Arabia
Report Al-Owairan   5'
Attendance: 52,959
Germany  3 – 2  Belgium
Völler   6', 40'
Klinsmann   11'		 Report Grün   8'
Albert   90'
Attendance: 60,246

1998 FIFA World Cup

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In 1998 Belgium was one of only three teams, along with hosts and eventual world champions France and Italy, not to lose a single game. Three draws in the first round – against Netherlands, Mexico and South Korea – proved not enough to reach the knockout stage. In 1998 Enzo Scifo and Franky Van der Elst appeared in their fourth World Cups, setting a Belgian record.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Netherlands 3 1 2 0 7 2 +5 5 Advance to knockout stage
2   Mexico 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 5
3   Belgium 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3
4   South Korea 3 0 1 2 2 9 −7 1
Source: FIFA
Netherlands  0–0  Belgium
Report
Attendance: 75,000
Belgium  2–2  Mexico
Wilmots   43', 47' Report García Aspe   55' (pen.)
Blanco   62'
Attendance: 31,800
Belgium  1–1  South Korea
Nilis   7' Report Yoo Sang-Chul   71'
Attendance: 45,500

2002 FIFA World Cup

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With two ties, the 2002 FIFA World Cup did not start well for Belgium, but the team improved during the tournament. Captain Marc Wilmots was notable for scoring in every match of the first round. Belgium won the decisive group match against Russia with 3–2 and in the second round they had to play against eventual champions Brazil. In this 1/8th final, referee Peter Prendergast disallowed a headed goal by Wilmots that would have given Belgium a 0–1 lead, after a "phantom foul" on Roque Júnior.[10] Eventually Brazil won 2–0, but Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted after this match that Belgium was a tough edge and after the tournament he declared that the match against the Red Devils had been the hardest for Brazil to win.[11] With the World Cup final still to go, the team did win the tournament's fair-play award.[12] Marc Wilmots equalled the record of Enzo Scifo and Franky Van der Elst by appearing in 4 World Cup squads, although he did not play in his first World Cup in 1990. Wilmots also scored his 5th World Cup goal against Russia, which made him Belgium's top scorer in World Cup Finals matches until the 2018 world cup when Romelu Lukaku also scored his 5th World Cup goal.[13]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan (H) 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Belgium 3 1 2 0 6 5 +1 5
3   Russia 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3
4   Tunisia 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
(H) Hosts
Japan  2–2  Belgium
Suzuki   59'
Inamoto   67'		 Report Wilmots   57'
Van Der Heyden   75'
Attendance: 55,256
Tunisia  1–1  Belgium
Bouzaiene   17' Report Wilmots   13'
Attendance: 52,000
Belgium  3–2  Russia
Walem   7'
Sonck   78'
Wilmots   82'		 Report Beschastnykh   52'
Sychev   88'
Attendance: 46,640
Brazil  2–0  Belgium
Rivaldo   67'
Ronaldo   87'		 Report
Attendance: 40,440

2014 FIFA World Cup

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In 2014, Belgium started as group favourites and beat all group opponents with the smallest margin. Thereafter, they advanced to the round of 16 and played the United States. The Red Devils needed extra time to proceed to the next stage (2–1), where they faced Argentina. In a balanced quarter-final against the Albiceleste, the World Cup ended for Belgium as they failed to equalize after Gonzalo Higuaín's early goal.

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Belgium 3 3 0 0 4 1 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Algeria 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 4
3   Russia 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
4   South Korea 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Belgium  2–1  Algeria
Fellaini   70'
Mertens   80'		 Report Feghouli   25' (pen.)
Attendance: 56,800
Belgium  1–0  Russia
Origi   88' Report
Attendance: 73,819
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
South Korea  0–1  Belgium
Report Vertonghen   78'
Attendance: 61,397
Belgium  2–1 (a.e.t.)  United States
De Bruyne   93'
Lukaku   105'		 Report Green   107'
Attendance: 51,227
Argentina  1–0  Belgium
Higuaín   8' Report
Attendance: 68,551

2018 FIFA World Cup

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Belgium 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   England 3 2 0 1 8 3 +5 6
3   Tunisia 3 1 0 2 5 8 −3 3
4   Panama 3 0 0 3 2 11 −9 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Belgium  3–0  Panama
Mertens   47'
Lukaku   69', 75'		 Report
Attendance: 43,257
Belgium  5–2  Tunisia
E. Hazard   6' (pen.), 51'
Lukaku   16', 45+3'
Batshuayi   90'		 Report Bronn   18'
Khazri   90+3'
Attendance: 44,190
England  0–1  Belgium
Report Januzaj   51'
Attendance: 33,973
Round of 16
Belgium  3–2  Japan
Vertonghen   69'
Fellaini   74'
Chadli   90+4'		 Report Haraguchi   48'
Inui   52'
Attendance: 41,466
Quarter-final
Brazil  1–2  Belgium
Renato Augusto   76' Report Fernandinho   13' (o.g.)
De Bruyne   31'
Attendance: 42,873
Semi-final
France  1–0  Belgium
Umtiti   51' Report
Attendance: 64,286
Third place play-off
Belgium  2–0  England
Meunier   4'
E. Hazard   82'		 Report
Attendance: 64,406

2022 FIFA World Cup

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Morocco 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Advanced to knockout stage
2   Croatia 3 1 2 0 4 1 +3 5
3   Belgium 3 1 1 1 1 2 −1 4
4   Canada 3 0 0 3 2 7 −5 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Belgium  1–0  Canada
 Report
Attendance: 40,432
Belgium  0–2  Morocco
Report
Attendance: 43,738
Croatia  0–0  Belgium
Report
Attendance: 43,984

Overview

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Tournaments

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  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Host(s) Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pos. Pld W D L GF GA
1930   Uruguay Group stage 2 0 0 2 0 4 Squad Participated as invitees
1934   Italy Round of 16 1 0 0 1 2 5 Squad 2nd 2 0 1 1 6 8
1938   France 1 0 0 1 1 3 Squad 2nd 2 1 1 0 4 3
1950   Brazil Did not enter Did not enter
1954    Switzerland Group stage 2 0 1 1 5 8 Squad 1st 4 3 1 0 11 6
1958   Sweden Did not qualify 2nd 4 2 1 1 16 11
1962   Chile 3rd 4 0 0 4 3 10
1966   England Play-off 5 3 0 2 12 5
1970   Mexico Group stage 3 1 0 2 4 5 Squad 1st 6 4 1 1 14 8
1974   West Germany Did not qualify 2nd 6 4 2 0 12 0
1978   Argentina 2nd 6 3 0 3 7 6
1982   Spain Second group stage 5 2 1 2 3 5 Squad 1st 8 5 1 2 12 9
1986   Mexico Fourth place 7 2 2 3 12 15 Squad Play-off 8 4 2 2 9 5
1990   Italy Round of 16 4 2 0 2 6 4 Squad 1st 8 4 4 0 15 5
1994   United States 4 2 0 2 4 4 Squad 2nd 10 7 1 2 16 5
1998   France Group stage 3 0 3 0 3 3 Squad Play-off 10 7 1 2 23 13
2002   South Korea
  Japan 		Round of 16 4 1 2 1 6 7 Squad Play-off 10 7 2 1 27 6
2006   Germany Did not qualify 4th 10 3 3 4 16 11
2010   South Africa 4th 10 3 1 6 13 20
2014   Brazil Quarter-finals 5 4 0 1 6 3 Squad 1st 10 8 2 0 18 4
2018   Russia Third place 7 6 0 1 16 6 Squad 1st 10 9 1 0 43 6
2022   Qatar Group stage 3 1 1 1 1 2 Squad 1st 8 6 2 0 25 6
2026   Canada
  Mexico
  United States 		To be determined To be determined
2030   Morocco
  Portugal
  Spain
Total Third place 51 21 10 20 69 74 — 14/22 141 83 27 31 302 147
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place   

Matches

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Record players

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Rank Player Matches World Cups
1 Enzo Scifo 17 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998
2 Jan Ceulemans 16 1982, 1986 and 1990
3 Franky van der Elst 14 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998
4 Eric Gerets 12 1982, 1986 and 1990
Thibaut Courtois 12 2014,2018 and 2022
6 Franky Vercauteren 11 1982 and 1986
Stéphane Demol 11 1986 and 1990
Georges Grün 11 1986, 1990 and 1994
Eden Hazard 11 2014,2018 and 2022
Dries Mertens 11 2014,2018 and 2022
Jan Vertonghen 11 2014 and 2018

Goalscorers

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Marc Wilmots (as trainer), Belgium's joint all-time top scorer at the World Cup

List of FIFA World Cup goalscorers

Awards

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Team

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Individual

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See also

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Footnotes

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References

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  1. ^ "Head-to-Head: Belgium v Russia". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d This is one of several goals for which the statistical details are disputed. The goalscorers and timings used here are those of FIFA, the official record. Some other sources, such as RSSSF, state a different scorer, timing, or both. See "World Cup 1930 finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  3. ^ Guldemont 1978, p. ?.
  4. ^ Bilic, Pierre (3 Oct 2013). "de Rode Duivels in het collectieve geheugen". Sport/Voetbalmagazine. Roeselare: Roularta Media Group NV.
  5. ^ "Classic football - matches". FIFA. 26 Aug 2012. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013.
  6. ^ Edworthy 1997, pp. 138–139.
  7. ^ Witzig 2006, p. 167.
  8. ^ "Scifo: I wouldn't change a thing". FIFA News. 14 Sep 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009.
  9. ^ Lisi 2011, p. 263.
  10. ^ Witzig 2006, p. 289.
  11. ^ "Scolari praises team effort". BBC Sport. 17 Jun 2002.
  12. ^ "Belgium honoured with the FIFA Fair Play Award". FIFA News. 29 Jun 2002. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
  13. ^ "Belgium at the World Cups - Goalscorers at World Cups". thefifaworldcups.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014.

Bibliography

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