World Cup 2014 Schedule, Dates, Preview: Belgium Opens Campaign Against Algeria
Group H favorite Belgium will kick off its 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign against Algeria on Tuesday at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Belgium, which has never topped its group in a World Cup, is considered the heavy favorite to win Group H, which also includes Russia and South Korea.
"Belgium is one of those teams that can surprise," says Fox Deportes' Marion Reimers to LatinPost.com prior to the start of the World Cup. "They remind me so much of the Germany team from a few years ago, who had youthful talent that surprised the world. I think they can surprise people and have a similar run despite their youth."
The Belgian side will lean on the striking prowess of 21-year-old Romelu Lukaku, who has scored six goals for Belgium this season, along with Kevin De Bruyne, who netted four goals and had four assists during the qualifying tournament.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots is also pinning his hopes on midfielder Eden Hazard, who is expected to play a bigger role in Belgium's campaign in the Brazil tournament.
"He is one of the players who can be among the five best in the world," Wilmots said of Hazard via The Guardian. "He has everything he needs and now it is up to him to release the handbrake and go. He is 23 years old and playing his first tournament. We will see how he goes. He has everything he needs."
Wilmots is also confident that the team has prepared enough to score a convincing win against Algeria, considered by most analysts to be the weakest team in Group H.
"We do a video analysis of the last 10 games, yes the last 10, to know every starting 11," Wilmots said via Yahoo Sports UK. "I won't give you my sheets that I've got here, but I know about each player individually and in which system they played. So we are ready, we know everything about Algeria, but what I'm interested in is that our players know all about it."
On the other hand, Algeria will look to win its first World Cup game since 1982, and forward El Arbi Hillel Soudani should be at his best to give his team a chance against Belgium.
Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic knows his team is already being counted out, but he is confident Algeria is ready to pull off surprises in this year's World Cup.
"The team showed it could win over top teams," Halilhodzic said, per Eurosport UK. "We leave for the World Cup with a good track record. We could have scored more goals if we had been more effective in front. I've some ideas but for now I have yet to work out 100 percent the team that will play the first game of the World Cup."
Date, Start Time, How to Watch
The Belgium-Algeria match starts at 12 p.m. EST Tuesday. Fans can catch the action on ESPN and via WatchESPN.
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