Belgium national team: history and successes – everything you need to know about the “Red Devils”

The Belgium national team has been one of the top teams in world football over the years. All information about “Red Devils”.

BRUSSELS – The Belgium national football team has been one of the top teams since the latest 2018 World Cup. At the tournament in Russia, Belgium won 2–1 against the English national team and finished the World Cup in third place. Belgium were the first to enter the FIFA world rankings for the 2021 European Championship, making them one of the top favourites. However, the Belgian national team had to wait for some time to return to the elite of world football.

Belgium national team: debut and early successes

Belgian Football Association The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) was founded in 1895. However, since 2019 the association has an English name only. Earlier, it had two names. In Dutch the association was called Koninklijke Belgis Voetbalbond (KBVB) in French Union Royale Belge des Societies de Football-Association (URBSFA). The division of the Belgian population into Dutch-speaking Flemings and French-speaking Walloons was the reason for the two names.

The Belgium national team played its first international match against France on May 1, 1904. The game ended in a 3–3 draw in Brussels. Belgium celebrated its greatest success after 16 years. Belgian kickers won the gold medal at the 1920 Olympic Games.

Belgium national team: participation in the European Championships

The Belgian national team has participated in five European Championships. Belgium made it to the semi-finals of the 1972 tournament in their own country. Against the German team, however, it was over there. The Belgian national team lost 2–1. In the game for third place, the “Red Devils”, as the Belgians are also known, won 2–1 against the Hungarian national team. Eight years later, the team went to the final, where they again met Germany. Belgium again lost 1:2 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. EM Partnership at a Glance:

Belgium at the World Championships: the semifinal is over

Belgium qualified for 13 world championships. The team was also represented at the first tournament in Uruguay in 1930. In Mexico in 1986, Belgium reached the semi-finals, but lost to eventual world champion Argentina. Another defeat followed for third place in the game: it was 2–2 against neighboring France after regular playing time; Belgium conceded two goals in extra time and lost 2:4. The biggest success in the tournament is the third place in the 2018 World Cup.

Belgium national football team wants to take next step in EM 2021

The Belgian national team missed the European Championships in Portugal in 2004, Austria and Switzerland in 2008, and Poland and Ukraine in 2012, as well as the World Championships in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010. At the 2014 World Cup and 2016 European Championship, Belgium was already a secret favourite, but could not live up to the expectations. In both tournaments, selection was eliminated in the quarter-finals. So also in EM 2021: the last stop was Italy (1:2).

The official squad of the Belgium national team for EM 2021

Belgium in EM 2021: Full qualification, out in quarter-finals

After finishing third in the previous tournament, Belgium wanted to play their part as the favourites. It was already outlined by the “Red Devils” during qualifying. In the group with Russia, Scotland, Cyprus, Kazakhstan and San Marino, the Belgian national team won every game and thus was confidently the group winner.

At the 2021 European Championships, Belgium played in Group B. The opponents in the tournament were Denmark, Finland and Russia. The Belgium national team was eventually eliminated after a 2–1 draw against Italy in the quarter-finals. (Max Schaefer)