Belgium v Scotland: Wary Vermaelen says Scots have ‘some good players’

By MASSIMO MARZOCCHI
Published on Tuesday 16 October 2012 00:09

BELGIUM defender Thomas Vermaelen is taking nothing for granted when his side host Scotland this evening despite their opponents’ poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Craig Levein’s side have yet to win any of their opening three matches in Group A, while the Belgians sit top with seven points.

Marc Wilmots’ side head into the game full of confidence following an impressive 3-0 win in Serbia. However, Vermaelen is wary of the threat of the visitors who have current Premier league top scorer Steven Fletcher in their ranks.

“It’s not going to be easy because they have some good players who play in the Premier League,” Vermaelen said on the eve of the match.

“We got a massive three points on Friday and we want three points tomorrow as well.”

Whether superstar playmaker Eden Hazard starts the game is yet unknown, with Wilmots unhappy with the Chelsea midfielder’s work rate without the ball during Friday’s win.

“I spoke to Eden after the game,” Wilmots said. “On Friday I had to move him away from the centre and put him out on the flank to restore the balance in the centre with Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele and Axel Witsel. Eden should know that, in football today, changing from defence to attack and from attack to defence are essential. But I support him. Step by step, we will get there.”

Hazard, who joined Chelsea for £32 million in the summer and scored in the Stamford Bridge club’s 4-1 win over Norwich a week past Saturday, has had to face similar criticism on a few other occasions this season – most notably when the Belgian FA’s vice-president, Philippe Collin, said the youngster needed a “kick up his ass”.

“He has technique, explosiveness and positioning. At some point he will have to work on defending, and he has no choice with that. But I have confidence that Marc Wilmots will occasionally give him a kick up his ass,” Collin explained. “The learning process is slow but good. If Messi should work for the team and defend, then I see no reason why Hazard should not do likewise.”

Vermaelen, though, was keen to back Hazard yesterday and believes Belgium’s good start in this qualifying campaign is down in part to team spirit.

“Everyone knows his qualities. I am really happy he is with the national team,” he added. “Maybe that [a lack of team unity] was the problem in the past but at the moment, shape of the team is better and we are getting the results.”

While there are slight doubts over whether Hazard will make the starting XI tonight, Wilmots is also set to include centre-back Vincent Kompany, despite the 26-year-old having missed his side’s recent 3-0 win over Sunderland with a calf strain.

And, although Kompany’s club manager – Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini – has expressed concern about his captain’s fitness, Wilmots insists he is ready to play. “Before the friendly game against Netherlands, Mancini called me,” he told reporters. “I rested Kompany then. Now, it’s a qualifier – that’s something else.

“He can call me, but Vincent is fit to play. Mancini really need not worry. We would not take a risk with a player.”

It is not the first time that Mancini has been critical of a national team counterpart this season, having hit out at Argentina’s decision to call-up Sergio Aguero whilst the striker was nursing a knee injury.

Taken from the Scotsman