France vs Belgium: How World Cup semi-final became celebration of immigration headed by two unlikely candidates

The World Cup - yes, world - has been narrowed down to four European teams, France, Belgium, England and Croatia, who have just two tournament wins between them. Delve a little deeper and you discover that various nations from ranging continents and cultures will be embraced in the final weekend of the tournament as a special celebration of integrated cultures.

Marouane Fellaini, Nacer Chadli, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, Dedryck Boyata, Michy Batshuayi, Mousa Dembele, Axel Witsel and Adnan Januzaj all have at least one parent from another nation and make up the bulk of Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ which has benefitted greater from second generation immigration than any other country. Instead of mentioning ‘Belgium’ in the same sentence as ‘semi-final’ we could very easily be waxing lyrical about Takashi Inui and Keisuke Honda had Japan held onto their lead, or it could have been time for Brazil’s next generation of stars to take their place at the top table. Instead, thanks to two unlikely candidates, it is Belgium’s rightful turn in the spotlight.
With 30 minutes to go and a two goal deficit to overturn against Japan, panic set in on Roberto Martinez’s face and thoughts. In a last-ditch effort to turn the game around, he abandoned his strict principles and brought on Fellaini and Chadli. Jan Vertonghen pulled one goal back and Fellaini found the back of the net with a trademark bullish header to level the score. 90 minutes had passed and the game was heading for extra-time, but Chadli timed his run into the box to perfection and scored a 95th minute winning goal to become the unlikely hero as Belgium avoided humiliation.

Chadli and Fellaini were rewarded for their performances with a place in the starting line-up in the quarter-final against Brazil and wasted to time in repaying the faith Martinez had shown in them. Fellaini kept Philippe Coutinho and Neymar’s attacking influence to a minimum and tucked into a tight midfield as Belgium held firm, Chadli also defended well and was a useful outlet when the Red Devils moved up the pitch.

With players like Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne in the team, to talk about Fellaini and Chadli as Belgium’s influential players feels like all the praise is in the wrong place, except it’s not.