International Friendly: Final Prep for Belgium but Are Pharaohs Here to Make up the Numbers?

Belgium vs Egypt

An International Friendly in Kuwait in the middle of November may be very unusual but more eyes than normal will be on this one.

That’s because, on the eve of Qatar 2022, this friendly could provide us with an indication of whether Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ are serious challengers to win a major trophy.

After sealing third place in the tournament four years ago, this World Cup provides the last-chance saloon for the current crop.

And, while I believe their best opportunity has passed, you can never rule out a side which contains the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois.

Talking Points

Belgium head to Qatar ranked second in the world by FIFA and breezed through qualifying with six victories and two draws.

Roberto Martinez’s side have had a mixed set of results since, winning four, drawing two and losing two of their eight games in 2022 – both of those against Holland in the Nations League.

However, not too much can be read into that and they will be hoping for international friendly 2022 highlights against opponents who will be watching this year’s tournament from home.

Martínez, who currently combines the job of technical director and national team coach at the Belgian FA, will likely give minutes to most of his squad so expect multiple substitutions, with the exception of the country’s highest-ever scorer, Romelu Lukaku, who has been troubled with a muscle injury so far this season and has only played twice since the end of August.

The 29-year-old, on loan at Inter Milan, is also a doubt for their Group F opener next week.

Egypt are looking for a comfortable win in Kuwait when they face Belgium for an International Friendly — Egypt’s Mohamed Salah during the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Cameroon

The Pharaohs, ranked 39th in the world, have their own star name in Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah who is one away from netting his 50th international goal. He could be joined in attack by Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed and Trabzonspor’s Trezeguet.

Another Premier League man, Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, has not played for his country in eight months but the 92-cap midfielder is in contention to start.

It has been a year of bitter disappointment for Egypt who finished runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations Final and then faced more qualifying heartache at the hands of Senegal a month later.

There has been much to report on since then too, including a change of manager over the summer as Ehab Galal was sacked after just three games in charge, replaced by former Benfica boss Rui Vitoria.

Portuguese boss Paulo Sousa had been a front-runner for the job; however, he reportedly withdrew after contacting ex-Egypt manager and countryman Carlos Queiroz, who has bounced back from their luckless month to manage Iran in the tournament.

They are big shoes to fill.

The 52-year-old Vitoria has made a bright start to his rein, with Egypt securing back-to-back 3-0 home wins in friendly fixtures against Niger and Liberia during September’s international break.

This, of course, is a very different level of opposition as Egypt bring the curtain down on a year they will sooner forget.

For Belgium, the best may be yet to come.

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History

This is a fixture which has only played a handful of times, not once competitively in a tournament.

In the spring of 1999 in Liege, Hazem Imam netted the only goal for the Egyptians.

In Cairo six years later, it was even one more-sided as Egypt rattled in four goals without reply, Emad Moteab (two), Ahmed Eid and Osama Hosni on target.

By the time they met four years ago in a warm-up for the World Cup, Belgium had a string of household names and emerged 3-0 winners with Lukaku, Hazard and Marouane Fellaini – all then plying their trade in the Premier League – the goal-getters.

Belgium would go on to clinch third place in the tournament, their high spot coming in a thrilling quarter-final victory over Brazil.