Belgium
GK) Thibaut Courtois
8 – Once again looked every inch the world class goalkeeper that he is, making one stunning save late on when Lionel Messi broke free and clean through on goal.
RB) Toby Alderweireld
6 – Relatively competent defensively, but the Atletico Madrid man really exacerbates Belgium’s problem of centre backs playing at full back and the subsequent lack of attacking width.
CB) Daniel van Buyten
6 – Didn’t do a whole lot wrong defensively and has a good World Cup for a player of his age, but offered nothing when sent upfront late on.
CB) Vincent Kompany
5 – Largely solid, but utterly embarrassed at one point in the second half when Gonzalo Higuain nutmegged him to race through on goal. Also at fault for the winning goal, racing into midfield and losing the ball.
LB) Jan Vertonghen
6 – Just like Alderweireld, the Spurs man was perfectly capable defensively but simply didn’t do enough going forward to help his team force their way back into the match.
CM) Axel Witsel
7) – Has been possibly Belgium’s most important player of the tournament so far, shielding the defence with both intelligence and physicality. Was once again possibly their best player.
CM) Marouane Fellaini
3) – Essentially dreadful. Spent much of the game seemingly doing little more than roaming around giving away fouls, whilst his headers when he went upfront late on were more like defensive clearances.
ARM) Kevin Mirallas
5) – Thrown into the team by Marc Wilmots after his impressive cameo as a substitute against the USA, but as with other Belgian players, Mirallas struggled to make an impact when given a starting place.
ACM) Kevin de Bruyne
5) – The Vfl Wolfsburg star has had an underwhelming World Cup and was once again wasteful in possession, rarely looking like the talented creative players that he is.
ALM) Eden Hazard
5) – Has had a thoroughly disappointing World Cup, this time being dragged off by Marc Wilmots in favour of Nacer Chadli after a frustrating seventy minutes in Brasilia.
SC) Divock Origi
5) – Also looks better as a substitute, Lille striker Origi worked hard but didn’t run the channels intelligently enough and couldn’t hold onto the ball long enough to let the midfielders get up and around him.
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