HERE COME THE BELGIANS!!!!!!!!!!

A lot of talk has been made of the arrival and subsequent impact of Eden Hazard at Chelsea FC this season weighing in with 2 goals in 7 starts and numerous assists. However, Hazard is only one of a new era of Belgian players who have arrived to ply their trade in the English Premier League. Marouane Fellaini and Vincent Kompany are already established Premier League players along with Thomas Vermaelen of Arsenal who was arguably one of the best defenders in the league last season.

The success of the Belgian players in the Premier League can be attributed to their physique - Fellaini and Lukaku are both 6 ft 4" whilst Kompany, Vermaelan and Vertonghen are all over 6ft - this is a big factor in the EPL - especially for defenders who are up against huge centre forwards (Crouch, Carroll etc) week in, week out. Those who aren't tall in size make up for it in the skills department - Hazard one of the best playmakers in the league and Demebele who is one of the best players on the ball.

We take a look at the players who are currently playing for clubs in the English Premier League which will make up the nucleus of the Belgium National team on the "Road to Rio".

Thomas Vermaelen - Arsenal FC

Christian Benteke - Aston Villa FC

Thibaut Courtois - Chelsea FC (on loan to Atletico Madrid)
Kevin De Bruyne - Chelsea FC (on loan to Weder Bremen)
Romelu Lukaku - Chelsea FC (on loan to West Bromwich Albion)
Eden Hazard - Chelsea FC

Marouane Fellaini - Everton FC
Kevin Mirallas - Everton FC

Vincent Kompany - Manchester City

Simon Mignolet - Sunderland

Jan Vertonghen - Tottenham Hotspur
Moussa Dembele - Tottenham Hotspur

You can easily pick a starting eleven from these players but if you factor in Daniel Van Buyten from Bayern Munich and Axel Witsel who plays for Zenit St Petersburg you really do have a core squad of players who, on paper, look a real force in years to come.

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