Young Devils scratch 21-year itch

It is 21 years since Belgium finished fourth in the FIFA World Cup – fast forward two generations and they lie 71st in the rankings below Uzbekistan. Maarten Martens and company might be about to do something about this.

Departure
The reduced status of the Belgian game is reflected by the fact Martens chose to leave RSC Anderlecht – a Brussels sporting institution with a European reputation – to join a less heralded Dutch club in RKC Waalwijk when he was still in his teens and with a solitary first-team appearance under his belt.

Breaking away
Three seasons on and Martens, now 22, has just completed an impressive first term at Eredivisie high-fliers AZ Alkmaar. His career path has been mirrored by four other members of the Belgium Under-21 team that started Wednesday's win against Israel; three pursuing their development in the Netherlands (Sepp De Roover, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen) and one in France (Kevin Mirallas).

Belgium goal
As Belgium captain at the UEFA European U21 Championship, Martens has the chance to restore some of his country's lost prestige at the expense both of the Netherlands, the hosts and holders, and of his AZ team-mates. The two sides meet in a Low Countries derby in Heerenveen on Saturday, with the Young Devils needing a point to qualify for the semi-finals from Group A alongside the Jong Oranje. Time, therefore, to put aside friendships forged in the Alkmaar dressing room.

Good neighbours
Maartens told uefa.com: "I will talk to them maybe on Friday. They are all good friends, the whole team at Alkmaar are good friends." Dutchmen Boy Waterman, Ryan Donk and, in particular, Julian Jenner are likely to exit that category come the weekend. Right-winger Jenner, if selected, will come into direct confrontation with the left-sided midfielder. Maartens said: "Julian Jenner lives 50 yards from my house so we are very good friends. We do a lot of things together so it is special to play against him. I hope he does play."

Credentials
Belgium have impressed in both matches so far, a goalless draw against Portugal preceding the 1-0 victory over Israel. Perhaps that should not be too much of a surprise. Ten of Jean-François De Sart's team were called up for senior duty at a recent UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier, while midfielders Anthony Vanden Borre and Tom De Mul have just secured transfers to ACF Fiorentina and Sevilla FC respectively. Confidence is high. They might even turn the cross-border traffic in their favour by bringing home the trophy.