The Belgium manager is preparing for a third tournament in charge – with his contract up, it may well be his last
Richard Edwards
INTERVIEW
How different is a winter World Cup, compared with Russia 2018?
You’re preparing in a different way but, in my eyes, it’s going to be better than when the tournament takes place at the end of the season when everyone is really fatigued. From a mental point of view, more than a physical one, it’s going to be very interesting. There isn’t the build-up – there’s no wasting time between the end of a season and the start of the tournament.
Will there be any difference in the players’ energy levels in Qatar?
Intensity levels in the major leagues have a huge impact on the players, particularly those also involved in the Champions League. We finished third in 2018, but those players who play in the Premier League could feel the seven games in their legs. I look at this World Cup as a unique opportunity – I do think the players will be a lot fresher in Qatar, and the games will be quicker from a physical point of view.
How do you reflect on Euro 2020, when Belgium lost to eventual champions Italy in the last eight?
You expect to win your group games, which we did well. Then we played the European champions Portugal in a really intense game, and managed to come through. Against Italy, they were probably the better team in the first half and we were the better team in the second half – in the end, it’s small margins that allowed them to progress. Yes, we lost a match in the knockout phase, but it could have gone either way – it was an honourable way to leave the competition. You felt that if it went into extra time, then we would be in the ascendancy, but you also sensed that Italy had something very special with that group of players. They were playing more like a club team than a national team, you could see that in our game. Ultimately, that experience will make us a stronger team. We completely understand the small margins that come with major tournament football.
You mentioned that third-placed finish in 2018 – is winning this World Cup still a realistic possibility?
We don’t look any further than what we’ve been given. We’ve earned the right to three games. I don’t want to look any further and try to speculate. I’m looking at Canada, a team that surprised the USA and Mexico to finish top of their group during qualification. Then we’ve got Morocco, which will be a special game because maybe four or five of their players were born in Belgium. Then we’ve got Croatia, who fell at the final hurdle four years ago but have been in
