Packed with talent and power, they will be a force to reckon
Belgium
Some of the smaller nations at the World Cup have grafters and workmen, but Belgium is blessed with pure talent and imposing physique in equal measure. Fleet-footed youngsters like Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard are complemented by powerful, experienced leaders in Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen. It’s actually no surprise that a team with stars from Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Napoli and Atletico Madrid topped their qualifying group and are ranked above World Cup stalwarts France and the Netherlands.
(This story appears in the 13 June, 2014 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)