Roberto Martínez is a risky choice for Belgium, the Dutch are in disarray and will Raheem Sterling’s club form translate on to the national stage with England?
What Belgium need most right now is a bit of rigour but they have hired a dreamer. Little about the career of Roberto Martínez suggests he is the man to instil the defensive cunning and balanced plan that a gifted Belgian squad has lacked in recent years. It seems a perverse appointment or at least a hugely optimistic one, because to succeed Martínez will have to temper his idealism and Thierry Henry will have to emerge as a masterful coach. There was no evidence of that or, indeed, of any other useful impact in the duo’s first match in charge: Spain were brilliant in Thursday’s 2-0 friendly victory in Brussels, where Belgium just looked confused. Belgium may still have enough good players to beat Cyprus in their first qualifier on Tuesday and eventually come through a comfortable group but proper leadership will be required is this team is ever to fulfil its potential. Paul Doyle
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