World Cup Cheat-Sheet: Ladies Edition (Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia & South Korea)

The group stage has become a welcome reality for some & a horrific ending for others. Here we see how Group H stacks up:

Belgium :
Forget their chocolate, forget their yummy Destrooper galettes. This team is like a young Paul Newman circa Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; young, intense & ready to conquer

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The team's nickname: The Red Devils." The name given to them by a journalist who called the Belgian squad "The Red Devils" after three "devilish" wins in 1906
- Playing style: fluid and surprising (as seen in yesterday's win over Russia), this is Belgium's golden era thanks to Chelsea FC's influence (several have/do play for the EPL Chelsea team)
- Players to watch: Hazard, Origi & De Bruyne
- How far can they go: They are tagged as one of the big teams to watch this year & they are at the top of their group, securing them a place in the R16. Time to see what's in store for this young squad
- Lastly, here are 2 of Belgium's most 'valuable' players for reference purposes ;)

Smooth operator Eden Hazard & Jan Vertonghen's adorable pout

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Algeria :
This is the North African nation's 4th time at the Big Show & they have just made history by being the first African nation to score 4 goals at a WC (their first win in 32 years)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The team's nickname: "Les Fennecs," which is a small fox native to Algeria
- Playing style: Ambitious and hungry but not much of a defense nor offense, the task of play-making will land on the shoulders of the midfielders
- Players to watch: Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani
- How far can they go: Vahid Halilhodzic was fired from the Cote D'Ivoire/Ivory Coast squad just before the last WC so he's out to prove he can lead an African squad to the R16
- Lastly, here is one of Algeria's most 'valuable' players for reference purposes ;)

The perfectly chiseled Medhi Lacen

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Russia :
The 2018 hosts of the World Cup somehow, coincidentally of course!, were put in a very easy group but are having problems getting things in order for this WC.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The team's nickname: "Sbornaya" means "National Team" in Russian
- Playing style: Russia has a good defense but the counter-attack is lacking & the team is essentially a work-in-progress
- Players to watch: Igor Akinfeev, Alan Dzagoev & Aleksandr Kerzhakov
- How far can they go: Italian coach Fabio Capello is trying to get them to the R16 but every other team they are playing against, seems to have other plans for Mother Russia.
- Lastly, here is one of Russia's most 'valuable' players for reference purposes ;)

Alexander Kerzhakov

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South Korea :
South Korea has been to more World Cups (9) than any other Asian nation, including the 2002 WC they hosted with Japan.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The team's nickname: "Taegeuk" refers to the symbol on South Korea's flag, which represents a spiritual balance, similar to the yin and yang symbol. Another nickname for this squad is "The Reds/Red Devils" derived from the team's uniforms
- Playing style: Quick & have finesse at the front but the goal box is basically empty
- Players to watch: Son Heung-min
- How far can they go: South Korea is on a painful vacation
- Lastly, here is one of Korea's most 'valuable' players for reference purposes ;)

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