In this week's Game Breakers feature Soccer Laduma discusses whether Belgium goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, can become a key figure for Belgium's World Cup squad.
The 21-year-old will most likely be the youngest first-choice goalkeeper at the tournament in Brazil, but also one who the world will be watching with huge expectations.
Courtois keeps the goal for the Belgium national team whose talented generation are seen as the 'dark horse' for this year's tournament.
He made his international debut in November 2011 as a 19-year-old, making him the youngest goalkeeper to ever play for the Belgian national team.
Courtois played every minute during the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign, as Belgium qualified for its first major tournament since the 2002 World Cup. He only conceded four goals in ten qualification games and helped his country to qualify without losing a single game.
The Belgian is in his third season on loan at Atletico Madrid during which he has earned the status as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In 108 La Liga games for the Spanish side he kept 56 clean sheets.
His heroics have earned Atletico the UEFA Europa League in 2012 as well as the 2013 Copa del Rey where he was named Man of the Match in the final against Real Madrid.
This season he is part of the best La Liga defence which has only conceded 22 goals in 35 league games and is also the best in the Champions League, where he was a major reason why his side eliminated FC Barcelona in the quarter-final.
His teammate, Diego Costa, believes "Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers in the world" and the 21-year-old could be a major contributor in his countries World Cup campaign.
Belgium's best ever World Cup result was a fourth place at the 1986 World Cup, the only time they survived the round of last 16.
Marc Wilmots' side are seen as the dark horse for Brazil and are expected to easily surpass the group stage where they face Russia, Algeria and South Korea.
Can Thibaut Courtois be Belgium's game breaker and lead his country to success at the Brazil World Cup? Have your say in the comment section below.
