Belgium V England – Head to Head

[jips 18]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/the-rio-report/six-reasons-why-belgium-better-england-011924505.html

thoughts?

BELGIUM V ENGLAND – HEAD TO HEAD

Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois v Joe Hart

Courtois, only 20, is Petr Cech’s long-term successor at Chelsea and
has impressed in two seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid. With limitless
potential, he is an agile shot-stopper but can improve his command of
the area. Hart, however, is a title-winner and has plenty of experience
and – at just 25 – is regarded as one of the best keepers in the world.

Eurosport view – Hart of gold: BELGIUM 0-1 ENGLAND

Right-back – Toby Alderweireld v Glen Johnson

Ajax defender Alderweireld, 24, is equally adept as a centre-half,
but for his country usually trots out as a full-back. Solid defensively
but less of a threat going forward than Liverpool’s Johnson, who – while
prone to going walkabout – is one of the more exciting attacking
full-backs in the game.

Eurosport view – Let’s call it a draw: BELGIUM 0-1 ENGLAND

Left-back – Jan Vertonghen v Ashley Cole

Vertonghen, like Alderweireld, is more of a centre back but will play
on the left for his country. Solid positionally, excellent in the
tackle and imperious in the air, he would ordinarily take the points but
is up against one of the best left-backs in the world. Cole may have
gone off the boil recently but he always turns up for England.

Eurosport view – Old King Cole: BELGIUM 0-2 ENGLAND

Centre back – Vincent Kompany v Gary Cahill

Cahill is a fine ball-playing defender, but Kompany is a fantastic
leader and arguably the best in his position in Europe. Captain of club
and country, the former Hamburg man speaks several languages, is a
supreme organiser and rarely makes a mistake. Cahill is good, but not
that good.

Eurosport view – In good Kompany: BELGIUM 1-2 ENGLAND

Centre back – Thomas Vermaelen v Phil Jones

As far as stoppers go, Vermaelen looked the real deal when he came to
Arsenal. He has been shaky recently though, a long-term downturn that
could just be a result of Arsenal’s travails, but equally can be blamed
on a series of injuries. Jones, while also suffering fitness problems,
is younger, quicker, stronger and simply better. The Manchester United
youngster could well be one of the all-time greats.

Eurosport view – Keeping up with the Joneses: BELGIUM 1-3 ENGLAND

Right midfield – Kevin Mirallas v James Milner

Two very different players who operate in similar parts of the pitch,
Mirallas is a livewire winger/forward while Milner a hard-working wide
midfielder. An argument could be made that Mirallas would be best
compared to Theo Walcott or Aaron Lennon, but as it stands Roy Hodgson
prefers Milner, who gets through a shift but is less likely to stretch a
defence than Mirallas.

Eurosport view – Mirallas magic: BELGIUM 2-3 ENGLAND

Left midfield – Mousa Dembele v Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Belgium have a more settled midfield than England, but Dembele is not
guaranteed a place with the likes of Dries Martens knocking about. The
Ox, similarly, is no shoo-in, and while he is immensely gifted, he is
inconsistent and young. Dembele is a more proven pro, and plays more
games.

Eurosport view – Moose slays Ox: BELGIUM 3-3 ENGLAND

Central midfield – Marouane Fellaini v Steven Gerrard

A proper head-to-head as they turn out for local rivals Everton and
Liverpool, and are likely to quite literally come face-to-face as
Gerrard increasingly operates in a deeper role for England. There is no
doubt that Gerrard has been a world-class player, and that he is in good
form this season. But Fellaini is approaching his peak while, despite
some standout performances in recent times, Gerrard is getting towards
the end of his career and is physically less capable of dominating
matches as he did five years ago.

Eurosport view – Everton claim derby spoils: BELGIUM 4-3 ENGLAND

Central midfield – Axel Witsel v Michael Carrick

Witsel is a divisive character but one thing you cannot say about him
is that he lacks dynamism and quality. The Zenit St Petersburg
playmaker is quick, strong, aggressive and an excellent distributor of
the ball. While Carrick is a very good deep-lying playmaker, he lacks
mobility and has a tendency to drift out of matches.

Eurosport view – Witsel wins: BELGIUM 5-3 ENGLAND

Second striker – Eden Hazard v Wayne Rooney

A lot of hype is surrounding Hazard, who has bounced back from his
ballboy kicking shame with some magical performances for Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Rooney appears surrounded by a terminal cloud of negative
publicity, an emotional weight that comes with the job of England’s
highest-profile player. But you can never write off Roo, who is one of
the few English players capable of creating something out of nothing.

Eurosport view – Dead heat: BELGIUM 5-3 ENGLAND

Centre forward – Christian Benteke/Romelu Lukaku v Jermain Defoe/Danny Welbeck

Belgium have two incredible young talents up front so, even though
Defoe has the benefit of experience, Belgium easily win this heat. Both
Belgium youngsters are big, fast, powerful target men, with Benteke a
bigger physical presence and Lukaku more technically astute. Whether
it’s arch poacher Defoe or lively wide forward Welbeck, Belgium have the
edge in terms of power and ability.

Eurosport view – Made in Congo: BELGIUM 6-3 ENGLAND

[Mundaka 243]

Why head to head? I like to think of us as england 2

Anyways on topic:

I would only pick their backs over ours.

[Korea 734]

now or Potential future?

[zolayes 14,489]

No contest England have The TWO R's Rio and Rooney

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Some of those pairings are just ridiculous.

[Korea 734]

Gk: Hart

CB: Kompany, Vertoghen

RB: Johnson

LB: Cole

MF: Dememble, Gerrard and Witsel

Winger: Walcott/Lennon

SS: Rooney

CF: Welback

[Mundaka 243]

Winger: Walcott/Lennon

Walcott/Lennon over Hazard/DeBruyne/Mirallas/Mertens?

[Ollie 4,400]

Jones better than Vermaelen?

Belgium lack a finished article up front but they have players who will get there.

The comparisons are stupid. As much as i dislike Jack Wilshere, he's probably better than any CM in both teams.

Let me see...

Hart

Johnson - Kompany - Cahill - Cole

Dembele - Fellaini - Wilshere

Wallcott - Defoe - Hazard.

That's my preference tbh.

Cahill because i think he's defensively better than Vertongen and Wallcott simply because of his pace. Rooney will never be what he was 3 or 4 years ago. Something has died on him.

[harneth 15]

Courtois is better than Hart. No doubt about that.

[Korea 734]

Do we need both Jack and Demeble on the same thing?

Winger: Walcott/Lennon

Walcott/Lennon over Hazard/DeBruyne/Mirallas/Mertens?

Never seen KDB play... Also, I want speed and width as my wings.. Walcott and Lennon are probably the fastest guys in the BPL.

[Korea 734]

Courtois is better than Hart. No doubt about that.

Probably in the future, but now, I don't know how you can say courtois is better..

[Mundaka 243]

Probably in the future, but now, I don't know how you can say courtois is better..

Prolly because he has the most clean sheets in the primera division (at the age of 20 which is very young for a goalie...) or he has the clubs record of longest clean sheet? Is a decent reason to think he's better, i'm not claiming he already is for the record.

[Korea 734]

Prolly because he has the most clean sheets in the primera division (at the age of 20 which is very young for a goalie...) or he has the clubs record of longest clean sheet?

Clean sheets has a lot to do with the back four... Kompany been injured all season, which has contributed to the many goals Man City has conceeded. Hart was number one in Clean sheets for 2 years as well...

[Ollie 4,400]

Aaron Lennon is absolute shit, he has pace but nothing else. Hazard is so much better than him, it's almost like they play different sports. Lennon is like SWP, Jerome Thomas etc. Can run but can't score and can't cross. Pace is good but only if you can do something with it. Hazard is the only genuine world class winger in both squads combined. He is that good. Every England - Belgium mixed team should have Hazard.

I chose Hart because of his experience although Courtois really is playing better than him this season.

[Mundaka 243]

Clean sheets has a lot to do with the back four... Kompany been injured all season, which has contributed to the many goals Man City has conceeded. Hart was number one in Clean sheets for 2 years as well...

Yeh ok , i'm also quite fond of Hart, but i do understand if harneth already thinks hes better, stats will prove they are pretty close anyways

[Korea 734]

Yeh ok , i'm also quite fond of Hart, but i do understand if harneth already thinks hes better, stats will prove they are pretty close anyways

Also, bpl goalkeeper of the year for 2 years.....

Anyways, regarding Hazard, I thought we were comparing him to rooney?

[JDY 1,290]

4-2-3-1

Courtois

Johnson - Kompany - Vert - Cole

Dembele - Witsel

De Bruyne - Wilshere - Hazard

Rooney/Benteke

[Ollie 4,400]

You are actually saying the 2013 Rooney is better than the 2013 Hazard? Anyway forget who the first post compares, do your own.