After Michel Preud’homme, acclaimed as goalkeeper, the Belgian Union unveiled on Tuesday the defense of the “125 Years Icons Team”.
Eric Gerets, 66, has been chosen as a right-back. The “Lion of Rekem” wore the Red Devils jersey 86 times, scoring 3 goals. He took part in three World Cups, in 1982, in 1986, where Belgium was eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina’s Diego Maradona, and in 1990.
In central defense, the supporters have appointed Vincent Kompany, 34, and Philippe Albert, 53. Kompany, 34, was one of the spearheads of the “Golden Generation”, participating in the 2014 Worlds (as captain) and 2018. He ended his playing career at the start of the season, with 89 ‘caps ‘ to his credit. Albert, Devil 41 times, played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. At the American World Cup, he scored two of his five goals for the national team, including the one that offered a memorable victory over the Netherlands (1- 0).
The left-back position is reserved for Jan Vertonghen, 33. Still active, the now Benfica player is quite simply the record holder for matches played with the national team, 123 (9 goals). Vertonghen participated in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and Euro 2016.
Kompany and Vertonghen took part in the Russian epic of 2018, where Belgium achieved the best result in its history, third, improving the fourth place of 1986.
