With an array of talent expected to challenge for trophies amid intense competition for places and media scrutiny, comparisons between the plight of Tottenham Hotspur and the Belgium national team are unavoidable.
Mousa Dembele concurs. A foot in both camps, he is well aware of the challenge for his club and country over the next eight months as he targets an ambitious double with English Premier League and World Cup success.
“That’s a dream scenario,” he admits. “Of course I see the comparisons between the teams. At Tottenham we have a great squad, a lot of good players with ambition and with Belgium we have that as well.
“You want to win a trophy or achieve something because that’s when people recognise you are a good team. That’s important and we have to work hard in training and then in the games to do something special.
“I am happy to be part of both these teams, among good players, because you know you can do something special. And I am very excited to help them try to achieve success.”
Spurs, though, last won the top-flight title in 1961, and it's five years since they lifted the League Cup for their previous major honour.
Having spent £110.5 million (Dh657m) to strengthen their squad in the summer amid the protracted sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, the pressure is on them to deliver, with a top-four spot a minimum.
Their start to the season has not been without problems as Sunday’s 6-0 loss at Manchester City highlighted, leaving them eight points behind leaders Arsenal. Under-pressure manager Andre Villas-Boas will demand better when champions Manchester United visit White Hart Lane this weekend.
Dembele adds: “Everyone looks forward to these games. We will be motivated and there will be no fear. We beat United last season so they will be extra motivated to make sure it doesn’t happen a second time. They will do everything to beat us, but if we are to do anything in the league, then we have to beat them.”
It seems strange that Dembele, United’s Marouane Fellaini, City’s Vincent Kompany and Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard, will be rivals in the domestic campaign, then friends reunited on the biggest stage of all.
That classy quartet, along with Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen and Aston Villa’s powerful striker Christian Benteke, are a reason why their national team has been tipped to do well in Brazil, just like they did 27 years ago.
In a World Cup largely remembered for the genius of Diego Maradona, the brilliance of the Belgians captivated many. The tournament in Mexico saw them peak on the international stage, finishing fourth after being dazzled by a legendary dribble, and one of the greatest goals of all-time, from ‘El Diego’ in Argentina’s 2-0 semi-final win.
With Jean-Marie Pfaff commanding in goal, Eric Gerets dependable in defence, Enzo Scifo’s artistry in midfield and Jan Cuelemans and Nico Clausen forming a strong and skilful frontline, Belgium became a force in 1986, following on from their runners-up status at the European Championships six years earlier.
Now the ‘Red Devils’ are resurgent once again. Despite successive friendly defeats to Colombia and Japan, the side assembled by Marc Wilmots was supreme when it mattered in qualification, topping a group containing Croatia, Serbia and Scotland with eight wins and two draws from 10 games.
With a core of Premier League players, their reputation has been forged through age-level competitions, including a fourth-placed finish behind a Lionel Messi-led Argentina at the 2008 Olympics. They have grown together and Dembele, who has 55 caps at the age of 26, has faith in this ‘golden generation’.
He said: “At the Olympics in Beijing we came so close to winning gold, and that experience will help. When you are together a long time like we have been, then you get to know each other even better on and off the pitch and that helps for the team.
“If everyone stays fit we can do big things, but I don’t want to compare us to others because we have to be ourselves and stay focused. I don’t have a limit with what this team can achieve. We can do a lot, but at the end we have to make our own mark.
“People are talking about us, but I don’t feel the pressure yet. Maybe in Brazil, there could be, but now it’s all good. And even in Brazil I feel it will be nice pressure, because you want to show everyone what you can do. Belief is the biggest thing, to have confidence in yourself and your team-mates.”
Despite the highs and lows associated with the game such as bad results, injury or not starting every game, Dembele retains a positive outlook. He provided an insight into his attitude after unveiling a new state-of-the-art True- Beam Linac radiotherapy machine at North Middlesex University Hospital in London, as part of Tottenham’s season-long support of the ‘Get to know cancer’ campaign.
“I’ve a friend who had cancer so I know about it and how important it is to support this campaign,” revealed the former AZ Alkmaar and Fulham star.
“I don’t want to say too much as it’s personal, but I played with him in Holland. He’s a very positive guy so he doesn’t let it stop him. He is doing things…he travels a lot. He’s a strong guy, but it shows what can happen to anyone in life.”
Dembele, whose father hails from Mali and his mother from Belgium, has fought to fulfil his dream since childhood.
Brought up in an immigrant-populated suburb of Antwerp where he shaped his footballing skills on a concrete basketball court, he blossomed at Beerschot and Willem II before becoming a key player at title-challenging Alkmaar. When capped by Belgium, he was just 19.
He said: “It was not easy, my parents and my sister are most inspirational for me. Nobody pushed me to do anything. They saw I liked football when I was young and supported me.
“I’m proud of my family. Now I want to make them proud. I want to be an important player. If you want to be important for your team, trying to do everything, then at the end it’s something people will remember you for. And I want to be remembered.”
FACTFILE
Born: Wilrijk, Belgium on July 16, 1987 Club career: Beerschot (2004-5); Willem II (2005-06); AZ Alkmaar (2006-10); Fulham (2010-12); Tottenham Hotspur (2012-current) International: 2006-current. Belgium (55 caps, 5 goals) Honours: Eredivisie (with Alkmaar in 2008-09) Hero: I wasn’t a fan of anybody, but the closest was Patrick Kluivert. Because of his ability, but also people said I looked like him when I was younger and I played a bit like him. So I watched him and how he played. Hobbies: Golf. I have started to play with Jan Vertonghen. I’m getting better and better. You can do it forever, something in the future I will love. Did you know: Dembele has known Spurs and Belgium teammate Vertonghen since they were 10, while at Beerschot.
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