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Belgium loaded with talent

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June 14, 2018
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AP The Belgian national soccer team poses in front of their aircraft prior to departure in Brussels, yesterday.
AP A mascot for the Belgian Red Devils poses in front of the plane that will transport the Belgian national soccer team in Brussels, yesterday.
AP Belgian players from left, Belgium's Dedryck Boyata, Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany and Eden Hazard pose in front of their aircraft prior to the teams departure in Brussels, Wednesday, June 13, 2018.
@Normal:Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (left) congratulates Eden Hazard after he scored his side's second goal during a friendly match against Egypt in Brussels yesterday.
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BRUSSELS (AP):

With a wealth of attacking options, Belgium should be a potent force going forward at the World Cup. They might need to be because with injury and fitness clouds over key defenders, the team could be vulnerable at the back.

Just two days before Martinez named his final squad, centre back Vincent Kompany injured his groin in a 0-0 draw with Portugal, raising fears he could miss his second consecutive major tournament after a leg injury sidelined him for the 2016 European Championship in France.

Martinez is giving him until the eve of Belgium's Group G opener, against Panama on Monday, to prove his fitness.

The 32-year-old Manchester City captain is not the only defensive worry for the Red Devils. Toby Alderweireld at Tottenham, Thomas Meunier at Paris Saint-Germain, and Thomas Vermaelen at Barcelona have all spent parts of the season warming the bench at club level.

Up front, it's a different story. Romelu Lukaku leads the attack, supported by the creative genius of Eden Hazard and with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield.

Here's a closer look at the Belgium team:

Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian)

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Borussia Dortmund), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).