With the most important football event on the planet right around the corner, FIFA fans eagerly await the release of EA’s World Cup update to FIFA 18. There has been no confirmed release date for the game as of yet, but rumours suggest that it will be an expansion on the September release rather than a standalone game. The signs point to it being made available in spring and it could come out after major competitions have wrapped up. Reigning champions Germany are currently among the favourites to lift the trophy again along with the likes of Brazil and France, but will this be the case in the world of FIFA?
Last September, Spanish commentator Manolo Lama let slip that he had been scheduled to record his commentary for the expansion in December of 2017, and he expected the game to be out in February or March of 2018. Seeing as this hasn’t been the case, it is much more likely that the game will be released after major tournaments like the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup have wrapped up. This will give players who have progressed in those tournaments a good chance to gain some momentum going into the summer tournament.
Belgium may well be dark horses in the coming tournament, and some of their best players have a chance to hit top form in cups beforehand. Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany are still battling in the Champions League with Manchester City, and have a strong chance of getting to the final. At the same time, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard with Manchester United and Chelsea respectively are challenging for the FA Cup.
While the likes of Germany and Brazil may be considered the more cohesive teams in real life, in a FIFA setting it’s hard to argue with the array of talent at Belgium’s disposal. In the game, they are one of the best all-around teams, with 86 attack, 84 midfield, and 85 defence. Germany are slightly weaker in attack with 81 overall, and match Belgium in the other areas of the park. Brazil match Belgium in attack and defence, but their midfield is 83.
On paper, Belgium look like potential World Cup winners, and have a number of standout stars who are a joy to play with on FIFA 18. Hazard and De Bruyne are the most notable components of this talented squad, with overall stats of 91 apiece. Hazard is one of the best dribblers in the game, while De Bruyne is renowned for his pinpoint passing accuracy.
Up to now, this golden age of Belgian players has failed to impress on the world stage. Fans will wait eagerly to see if that can change this summer under Roberto Martinez. No matter what happens in real life, there is no doubt that the Red Devils will be the first team a lot of players choose when they pick up the FIFA 18 World Cup expansion.
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