VAN BUYTEN THE OLD, GUIDES BELGIUM THE BOLD

36 year old Daniel Van Buyten gave his Belgian colleagues nine years in experience to lead his team into the quarter-finals of the World Cup. All eight group qualifiers won their last 16 knock outs and most recently it was the Belgians that earned their position in the quarter-finals. The frightening fact is that the next oldest player to appear in Belgian colours was Vincent Kompany at the ripe old age of 28. Given that Lukaku is 21, Origi 19, Hazard 23 and De Bruyne 23 the average age of yesterday's squad, without the old boy, is not yet 25. This must put fear into Europe's national team managers, as the next international tournament looms close, with qualifying matches beginning this Autumn. Van Buyten does not get a mention in the press report I read this morning, which proves that he is the rock on which all Belgian's success is founded. At 22 years old, how good was Courtois? Probably not as good as Tim Howard who made 16 saves from the 56 attempts that his opposition threw at him. There are a few more famous Belgians to consider now, to help you with your Christmas quiz this time round.