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Belgium prepare to take on the USA

01/07/2014 from:SNTV

Intro:

Belgium trained and talked at Estadio Manoel Barradas in Salvador on Monday ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match against the USA.

Script:

Belgium captain Vincent Kompany returned to training on Monday as he looks to prove his fitness ahead of their 2014 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match against the USA.

Kompany has been struggling with a groin problem and missed Belgium's last Group H game, a 1-0 win over South Korea - a match which Marc Wilmots made several changes, having already secured qualification to the knockout stage.

Wilmots said he would assess Kompany at training and make a decision on Tuesday, but added that his other first choice centre-back, Thomas Vermaelen, will not play.

Belgium finished top of Group H with three wins from three, while the USA were second in Group G behind Germany after a win, a draw and a defeat.

Axel Witsel said he would consider it a failure if Belgium were unable to beat the USA on Tuesday and qualify for the quarter-finals.

SOUNDBITE (French): Axel Witsel, Belgium midfielder (Q: Would the World Cup would be a failure if Belgium don't reach the quarter-finals?)

"I think it is very clear if we don't qualify tomorrow it will be a failure for us because we have a wonderful team with wonderful players and we have all the qualities to go to the quarter-finals. But we will be disappointed tomorrow if we don't win tomorrow."

However, Wilmots said his side weren't necessarily the favourites to progress to the last 8 of the competition, despite saying Belgium had 'evolved tremendously'.

SOUNDBITE (French): Marc Wilmots, Belgium manager (On facing USA)

"I am focussing on our qualities and on our players because we are the ones who have to play. It doesn't mean that we are favourites, but we are used to taking the match in our own hands and to control the game, that is the way we play, we have evolved tremendously."

If Belgium can make it past the USA they would face either Argentina or Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

Belgium were beaten by Argentina in the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup, a tournament where they went on to finish fourth, their best ever World Cup performance.

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