The Search For A New Head Coach

On April 7th, the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB/URBSF) dismissed René Vandereycken from his position of head coach for the Rode Duivels. He was largely fired for Belgium’s match results under Vandereycken. Certainly, qualifying for the next World Cup is a high priority for the Belgian FA. Belgium currently sits 4th out of 6th in Group 5 of the European qualifying zone. Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina (whom played a good match against Belgium) sit atop the group. Belgium’s last World Cup appearance was in 2002 where the Rode Duivels got as far as Round 2. Supposedly, there are over 20 potential candidates to replace René Vandereycken’s post. The list includes such notable managers as Dick Advocaat and Eric Gerets, but also Michel Preud’homme, Jean-Pierre Papin, Jean-François De Sart, Marc Wilmots, Hugo Broos, Laszlo Boloni, and Louis van Gaal. Thus far Gerets and Preud’homme have turned down the position. I’m hoping Dick Advocaat will accept the position. The FC Zenit St. Petersburg manager would be a great addition to the Rode Duivels, bringing experience and hopefully momentum in the World Cup qualifying stage. Things look bleak now, but perhaps a manager like Dick Advocaat can turn things around and potentially clinch a spot in South Africa next year. He recently took time out of his day to meet with the Belgian FA at a restaurant where he discussed the opportunity. Advocaat, has reportedly announced that he could see himself managing Belgium and expressed his desire to do so. In the past, he has coached South Korea, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates.
More Belgium News
Looking Ahead: Belgium vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina

At the end of this month the Rode Duivels will play a World Cup 2010 Qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The match will played in Genk, Belgium and kickoff is at 20:45 on Saturday, March 28th. So the encounter is several weeks away. Our opponents lie fourth in European Group 5 with six points ... [read more]
New FIFA Rankings: Belgium Stands Still

The new FIFA rankings were released for January 14, 2009. Belgium basically stood still in the table by maintaining its ranking of 54. Fellow World Cup 2010 qualifying nations, Estonia and Armenia were the only nations to move up in the rankings from Europe Group 5.
Rank Country Points
1. Spain ... [read more]
Looking Ahead: 2009 In Belgian Football

The Rode Duivels finished 2008 with a draw in an international friendly against Luxembourg. It was a very disappointing, frustrating, and angering (understatement) result. Prior to that fiasco, Belgium was having a nice journey in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying. Belgium tied Turkey 1-1 and just lost by one goal against ... [read more]
Vandereycken Releases Squad Against Luxembourg

René Vandereycken released the Rode Duivels line-up against Luxembourg in an upcoming international friendly. The match will be next Wednesday at 20:30 H in Luxembourg. Moussa Dembele will be replaced by Kevin Mirallas due to Moussa’s knee injury. The selection:
Keepers: Stijn Stijnen (Club Bruges), Silvio Proto (Germinal Beerschot), Logan Bailly (Racing Genk)
Defenders: ... [read more]
Moussa Dembélé Still Injured

Belgium international Moussa Dembélé is still injured from Belgium’s World Cup 2010 Qualifying match against Spain. He currently has a knee injury that is keeping him out of club play. AZ Alkmaar’s spokesman said that pictures taken October 16th revealed that luckily his injury is not serious:
“We won’t be deprived of Dembélé ... [read more]
Club Football News
Pippo Scores, Tiziano Crudeli Weeps
This is, incredibly, not too far off the norm for Tiziano Crudeli, journalist, commentator and Milan fan extraodinaire. He's a touch passionate about the Rossoneri and as one would expect, more than a touch passionate for icon Pippo Inzaghi's last game for the club on the weekend. Standard fare... And then ...
Photo: Beckham & Donovan Enjoy Some White House Sights
Enjoy Landycakes enjoying some First Bottom. In a room of armed men hell bent on protecting the object of his lurid fantasies at all costs. Or maybe they're there hunting down that dude straight out of the WWII flick on the left, looking like he's about to pillage something. (No comment.) And ...
Torching Burnt Bridges With Samir Nasri
Cripes, Manchester City's all over the place these days. One supposes with that ending they're allowed to be. Also: money's compelling. Don't ever think otherwise. They won the title this weekend after spending oodles and oodles of money the last few seasons. One oodle was Samir Nasri, you might recall, ...
The Charging Wolves Fan
Who knew Wolves - Wigan would have the best scene of the EPL weekend? Some bolder than thou Wolves fan sauntered into a March of the Cantaloupes and charged scores of Wigan fans. Presumably he had a decent reason. Or was reasonably sauced. One of those. Even better, all the ...
Carlos Tevez v Fergie: The Title Celebration
At current pace, the Manchester Derby could settle right below Clasico levels in a few years time. The spending and success on the blue side of town will only breed animosity, while history still remains firmly in the red half of town. Plus Carlos Tevez will be involved* and nothing fans ...
Felipe Melo Finds His Fire Hydrant
For no apparent reason, the canine urination celebration is taking hold of Europe. Or it's happened twice off the top of my head, which is far too many and certainly deserving of pandemic status. The first was Zenit's Danny, merely celebrating a goal. Now Felipe Melo was so excited by ...
Joey Barton Being Joey Barton
Yesterday, preceding one of the most astonishing league finales ever to be seen in our lifetimes, a more commonplace phenomenon was observed: Joey Barton. He was sent off for extracurriculars before the hour mark, putting his famously good behavioral regulation skills on show. (Charged not once but twice for violent ...
The Stop-Motion England Introduction
This is both wonderful and a wonderful departure from the standard footballing related videos you'll find on the YouTube. Even better, however, is that it's apparently part of a small series of videos, this one for England while the rest deal with the domestic game and specifically, Crystal Palace. The ...
USER COMMENTS
Looking Ahead: Belgium vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
2:4 welcome to hell in Zenica!!! Bosnia 4ever!!!Looking Ahead: Belgium vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
Anybody know how to watch this game online?Looking Ahead: Belgium vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia has few key players injured. This game will be very hard for Bosnia to win but I hope we do. ... [Read More]Looking Ahead: Belgium vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
I've paid my dues - Time after time - I've done my sentence But committed no crime - And bad ... [Read More]Looking Ahead: Belgium vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
You might not believe it but it will be Belgium 0: 4 Bosnia "Ovo je Bosna!" BHF 4 LIFE ... [Read More]

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