Tag: Belgium
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Injured Hazard brothers out of Belgium’s Euro 2020 qualifiers
Eden Hazard and his brother Thorgan will miss Belgium’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against San Marino and Scotland through injuries, the Belgian football association said on Wednesday. The pair reported to the team camp in Tubize on Tuesday for medical checks which confirmed Eden is suffering from a muscle strain while his younger brother has a…
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Marouane Fellaini announces international retirement
Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini announced his retirement from international football on Friday, ending a 12-year career with the national team. The 31-year-old scored 18 goals in 87 appearances for Belgium and represented them at two FIFA World Cups, helping them finish third in Russia last year. “After 12 years of representing Belgium at the highest…
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Former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo goes on exile in Belgium
Belgium has agreed to take in former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo following his acquittal at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Under the terms of his release, he has to remain in a host country until the tribunal rules on whether to grant the prosecutors’ request for a new trial. He is also…
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Belgium take outright top spot in new FIFA rankings
Belgium have edged ahead of France to take outright top spot in FIFA’s world rankings released on Thursday. Tiny Gibraltar were the biggest risers, thanks to their first two competitive wins this month. Belgium and France had been tied at the top last month. While both sides won one game and drew another in October,…
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Vincent Kompany's father becomes Belgium's first black mayor
Belgium has elected a black mayor for the first time – the father of international football star Vincent Kompany. Pierre Kompany topped the poll for the municipality of Ganshoren in Brussels, earning him the title of mayor. Mr Kompany arrived in Belgium in 1975 as a refugee from what is now the Democratic Republic of…
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Why I must leave Chelsea – Hazard
Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard says he will not move to Real Madrid in January, but agrees he might need to leave Chelsea to win the Ballon d’Or. The 27-year-old attacker said earlier this month that joining Real had been his “dream since I was a kid”. Asked if he needed to play in Spain to…
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Police raid Belgian football clubs over fraud, match-fixing
Several of Belgium’s top football clubs have been raided as part of a police investigation into alleged fraud involving the transfer of players. Agents, referees and officials from top clubs including Anderlecht, Club Bruges and Standard Liege are being investigated, Belgian media report. Club Bruges’ manager, Ivan Leko, is being questioned, along with prominent Belgian-Iranian…
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Belgium lacked magic in World Cup semi-final defeat to France – Martinez
Roberto Martinez attributed Belgium’s inability to “create a little bit of magic” to their World Cup semi-final defeat to France. Samuel Umtiti’s second-half header edged a tight contest in Saint Petersburg in France’s favour, meaning it will be bronze at best for Belgium’s golden generation at Russia 2018. “It was a very tight game, there…
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France defeat Belgium to reach 2018 World Cup final
France will face England or Croatia in the World Cup final after edging past European neighbours Belgium in the semi-final in St Petersburg. Defender Samuel Umtiti scored the winning goal for the 1998 champions in the second half with a towering header from Antoine Griezmann’s corner. Didier Deschamps’ side were on the back foot for…
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Team spirit can carry Belgium to World Cup final – Martinez
Belgium are in uncharted territory for their World Cup semi-final with France but believe their team spirit and togetherness can ensure they carry on their extraordinary journey in Russia, manager Roberto Martinez has said. Martinez’s team tackles the 1998 World Cup winners in St Petersburg on Tuesday for a place in the final, marking the…