Belgium enter the 2014 tournament brimming with confidence, and there is a belief amongst some in the football world that the Red Devils can actually go all the way in Brazil. However, their mere presence amongst the elite, in what is their first World Cup appearance for 12 years, is enough to please the Belgian fans, who suffered the low-point of seeing their team fall to 71st in the FIFA rankings in 2007.
The recent rise under Marc Wilmots has finally seen a return to international territory the Red Devils were once very familiar with, after first appearing in the inaugural 1930 tournament. In their first game in the FIFA World Cup the Belgians were defeated by the United States, a result which was extremely unexpected. In their second group game they were defeated by Paraguay 1-0, prematurely bowing out of the group stages.
In the following two World Cups, the Belgians also left the competition early. In 1934 they were knocked out by Germany, and in 1938 they lost to France 3-1; both results in the first round.
After five consecutive first round exits, Belgium finally qualified to the second round in 1982 where they finished top of their group where they play alongside champions Argentina, Hungary, and El Salvador. In the second round teams were drawn into groups which contained all of the sides who qualified. Drawn against Poland and the Soviet Union, the Belgians finished bottom of the group, losing both of their games.
Alongside the 1972 and 1980 European Championships, Mexico 1986 is considered one of the biggest achievements in Belgium’s history when they finished fourth. The Diables Rouges reached the semi-finals where they were knocked out by Diego Maradona’s Argentina. In fact, Belgium wouldn’t have reached the knockout stages had it been in nowadays’ format as they finished third in their group.
After beating the Soveit Union 4-3 in extra time, Belgium defeated Spain on penalties to qualify for the semi-finals.It was there that Belgium’s run came to an end when two moments of magic from Maradona decided the game. In the third-placed play-offs the Belgians were defeated by France 4-2 in extra time.
In the following World Cup in 1990 the Belgian national team was unable to repeat its 1986 run and after qualifying from the group they were knocked out by England in the dying minutes. With the game heading to penalties, David Platt found the back of the net to send England through to the quarter finals.
A similar exit in 1994 followed, this time they were knocked out by Germany. Four years later against France, the Diables Rouges failed to make it past the group stages, and in the the first Asian World Cup in 2002 Belgium were knocked out by Brazil.
