Origi To Play For Belgium In Worldcup

Divock is the son of former professional football player Mike Okoth, who played for the Harambee Stars.

Origi has represented Belgium at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under 19 level.

The Football Kenya Federation earlier in the year had expressed interest in persuading Origi to play for the Kenya national team in the future but he opted to play for Belgiun.

Origi will play alongside the likes of, Kompany, Vermaelen, Lukaku, Courtois and Hazard among other world class players.

With a star-augment squad full of young and talented players, many are almost sure that Belgium will stroll past Algeria in Group H opener today in 7pm kick off in Estadio Mineirao.

Having rebuilt their infrastructure and footballing reputation, Belgium return to the world stage after a 12-year absence with much hype and expectation.

This is the first competitive match between the two countries having last met in 2002 in a match that ended goalless.

Belgium are unbeaten in their last two World Cup group stages, in 1998 and 2002.

However, they have only won one of their last nine World Cup matches, 3-2 against Russia in 2002 and have also kept only one clean sheet during that period.

On the other hand, Algeria have failed to score in their last five World Cup matches, a record they share with Bolivia.

Algeria’s 23 man squad comprises of seventeen members who were born in France.

In other matches to be played later in the day, host, Brazil will be playing Mexico in Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza at 10:00 pm, with Russia playing South Korea at 1:00 am in Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba.

Mexico is the only side that has often beaten Brazil in the 21st century having managed six wins and two draws in 12 meetings during that period.

Brazil forward Hulk is a doubt to face Mexico after missing training on Monday through pain in his left thigh but Ramires is like to be deployed in his place in a 4-3-3 formation to counter Mexico.

Having both won their opening games, the winner from the match will be on the edge of qualification for the knockout stage.

Head-to-head record reveals that Brazil has won all three previous meetings in the World Cup without conceding a goal.

The Samba boys are now unbeaten in 38 successive matches on home soil, with their last defeat coming against Paraguay in August 2002.

Mexico have only beaten the Brazil once in their home soil way back in a friendly in 1968.

However, Mexico have won seven of the last 13 meetings over the last 15 years, the most of any nation against Brazil during that period.

In the last match of the day, Russia led by Coach Fabio Capello who guided England to just one victory in South Africa four years ago will be playing South Korea.

The last time the two countries met in a friendly last November, Russia won 2-1.

Russia has not progressed out of the group stage of the two previous World Cups they have qualified.

South Korea, though not much spoken have qualified straight for the world cup eight times, with only Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Spain boasting a longer current streak.

The Taeguk Warriors have begun each of the last three World Cups with a win, yet have only won two of their last 10 World Cup games.

Yesterday, Monday, Germany thrashed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 4-0 in a match that would have produced many more goals.

Thomas muller scored his first hatrick in international career and the first hatrick of this year’s tournament with Mat Hummels also appearing on the scoresheet.

Real Madrid’s Pepe was given matching orders in what was seen as a headbutt on Thomas Muller leaving Portugal’s defence exposed to the versatile Germany attackers.

United States of America also emerged 2-1 winners in ther match against Africa’s Ghana, with Nigeria recording the first goaless and draw in this year’s worldcup against Iran

Clint Dempsey opened the score for the Americans after 31 seconds- the fifth fastest goal in the history of the competition.

Adrew Ayew levelled things for the African but four minutes later substitute, John Brooks landed the decisive blow in the dying seconds from a header.

Tonight's Fixture:

Belgium vs. Algeria (Estadio Mineirao, 7:00 pm)

Brazil vs. Mexico (Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza .10:00 pm)

Russia vs. South Korea (Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba, 1:00 am)

By Morgan Mueke