According to Marc Wilmots, this generation of the Belgian football players can write a good chapter in their country’s football history. The Belgian head coach made this statement at the press conference before the match against Russia. Wilmots answered a question of newspaper “World Sport” and news agency worldsport.ge.
- Belgium was considered as the favorite of the group. Do you think tomorrow’s match will be for the first place?
Marc Wilmots: “Favorite? Belgium and Russia were considered as the favorites. I did not expect that Russia would fail to South Korea. Our main goal is to go through the next round. It is philosophical issue whether we take the first or the second place”.
- Vincent, are you ready for the match?
Vincent Kompany: “I feel good. The last three days I was practicing individually. Hopefully, we will not have a problem tomorrow”.
- As a captain of “Manchester City”, are you disappointed by the failure of the English national team?
Kompany: “My wife is from England. I think my children are Belgians but my wife thinks they are English. My friends play for England and I am disappointed, like other English fans”.
- Despite injury, Pereira of Uruguay did not leave the field in the match against England. In World Cup qualifying round you played Serbia with broken nose and concussion. Is it justified to risk your health?
Kompany: “Health is important. Of course, I understand reaction of the football players because you want to play for your country, no matter what. I remember reaction of our medical staff. In such situations you must trust doctors. I do not want to create a precedent but such adrenaline is excreted during the game that you do not want to leave the field”.
- You will play in “Maracana” and it is a great honor. What do you think about it?
Kompany: “For me “Maracana” is one of two special stadiums. The second one is “Wembley”. Playing in this stadium was my dream in the childhood”.
- Have you recovered from groin injury? Are not you risking other matches of the tournament by playing Russia?
Kompany: “I was practicing by special program and that is why I am not nervous”.
- Newspaper “World Sport” and news agency worldsport.ge. Mr. Wilmots, many believe this generation of the Belgian national team can achieve a great success. Do you think they will be just as successful as Eric Gerets, Enzo Scifo, Jan Ceulemans?
Wilmots: “This generation has been together for some years. It can achieve something. We are neither in euphoria nor create drama. It is important to make through to the next round and make the Belgian people happy. This generation can write a good chapter in the Belgian football history. We are forming the team of future and have concrete goals”.
- What do you think about the level of the tournament?
Wilmots: “The South Americans are doing what I stated six months ago. It deals with Colombia and Chile. Both of them are good teams. It is South American football. Colombia justified. I always characterized this team well”.
- At the 2002 FIFA World Cup you scored the third goal against Russia (3:1). Does the upcoming match have the same meaning like the previous one?
Wilmots: “We won that match 3:2. 12 years have passed and it is a long time. The generation has changed. It was a decisive match against Russia. I cannot compare these two matches”.
- Have you determined tactic of the future match and can you tell us what scheme you will play with?
Wilmots: “I will not tell you”.
- Will it be a tactical match?
Wilmots: “Indeed, it might be a tactical match. I have watched the match of Russia against Korea and it could not show evolutional football. We must not do stupid things. We have prepared well. Russia can change tactic. I cannot say how the match will be held”.
- Less developed countries played grands well. You found it hard to play Algeria, Argentina – Bosnia, Costa Rica beat England and Italy…
Wilmots: “There are no small countries. Everything depends on those players who are in the team. We must have won the first match. Now, Russia has to take the initiative”.
- There is a football player in the Russian national team who played Belgium at World Cup 12 years ago. Do you remember who he is?
Wilmots: “To tell the truth, no”.
- It was Kerzhakov…
Wilmots: “No problem, perhaps, somebody remembers him. Kerzhakov is a veteran and perhaps, Russia needs him. Like me, Capello relies on experienced football players”.
- Can you compare the Russian and the Algerian national teams?
Kompany: “It is very tough to compare Russia with Algeria. We did not make a mistake in the match against Algeria, if not the moment of penalty. At this tournament we learnt that we may make mistake but then, we can improve it”.
- There are some players in your team who play in Russia, Witsel and Lombaerts. Have you received information about the Russian national team from them? Do you think they can be experts of the Russian national team?
Wilmots: “The football players must play and not to be informants. We have people who provide us with the analysis of the Russian national team”.
Kompany: “We receive all information from the people who are busy with it”.
- Are you criticized that you are not busy with the team’s tactical preparation?
Wilmots: “I do not think so. We develop tactic 2-3 days before the match. If we think we should change tactic, we do it”.
- After the match against Algeria, international press mentioned the Belgian national team is not that great Belgium which everybody expected…
Kompany: “We are orientated on result. Besides Germany, which country showed that it is a great team? England, Spain, Italy, Brazil could not do it. Our goal is to make through to the next round. Perhaps, the international press stated the same about other 20 teams”.
- In your opinion, does football unite the Belgian nation?
Kompany: “I do not see policy in playing for our country. I observe myself and teammates as well. Some played well, some not”.



Lasha Tabagari, special correspondent of worldsport.ge from Rio de Janeiro
Photos by the author