As a rugged defender for FC Bruges, Georges Leekens earned himself the nickname "Mac The Knife". Belgium's World Cup coach grew up in a tough school, and it is thanks largely to his combative qualities that Belgium find themselves in a play-off with Ireland.

Leekens is the hero of the hour, the man called in midway through Belgium's Group Seven run to save a situation that was compromised but not impossible. The turning point came last December when a 3-0 defeat to neighbour and eternal rival Holland not only severely damaged national pride but suggested that Belgium were in danger of missing out on a remarkable fifth consecutive World Cup qualification.

Belgium started off this group under the guidance of Wilfred Van Moer, who may be more familiar to Irish readers as the inspirational midfield figure in the Belgian side that not only kept Ireland (only just) out of the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain, but which has also surprised many by reaching the final of the 1980 European Championships in Italy, losing 2-1 to the then-West Germany in Rome.

Van Moer was a splendid player, competitive and always on the move, useful both going forward and defending. His mentor and the national coach of the time was Guy Thys. Both believed in the traditional Belgian game which relied, perhaps overheavily, on an intelligent use of the offside trap plus an ability to shut a game down, often slowing the pace only to suddenly explode into action. In the wake of that 3-0 defeat by Holland (in Brussels, too), Van Moer's cautious philosophy and his reliance on the same limited number of players were considered too cautious. Van Moer was sacked and Leekens called in.

Leekens seemed an obvious choice, since he had proved himself surprisingly successful the year before with the little-known provincial side, Excelsior Moeskroen, winners of promotion to Division One in the 1995-96 season and then highly impressive performers in the top division. Moeskroen finished third in last season's Belgian championship, 12 points behind winners Lierse and three in front of fourth placed Anderlecht.

It needs to be pointed out that Leekens did not inherit an impossible situation. Under Van Moer, the side had played two qualifiers prior to the Dutch debacle, beating Turkey 2-1 at home and San Marino 3-0 away. Belgium had failed to inspire rave reviews in either game, and looked particularly inept against San Marino. But at least they had picked up six points.

Leekens' immediate task was to encourage the side to play a more attacking game. To this end, his recall of three experienced players was vital: midfielder Franky Van Der Elst (Club Bruges), Brazilianborn but Belgian naturalised striker Luis Oliveira (Fiorentina) and the much-travelled midfield schemer Enzo Scifo, once of Inter Milan, Monaco and Torino, now back in his native land with Anderlecht.

A 2-1 away win against Wales got the new manager off to a good international start, but it was really the 3-1 away win against Turkey that signalled a change of soccer credo. The scorer of all three goals against Turkey, incidentally, was Oliveira. The newlook side continued its positive run with a 6-0 win against San Marino, before suffering a 3-1 defeat, again by Holland, in Rotterdam last month.

Forced into defending for long periods against Holland, the Belgians were overturned by a 31stminute header from PSV Eindhoven defender Jaap Stamm following a corner. With no option but to come out fighting in the second half, Belgium were caught on the counter-attack with a brilliant goal from Patrick Kluivert.

Belgium finished the qualifying round last Saturday by beating Wales 3-2 in Brussels in a game that seemed sewn up at half-time on a 3-0 scoreline (Staelens, Claesens and Wilmots the scorers), before the Welsh fought back in the second half. Like many national sides, Leekens' Belgium draws its players from clubs across Europe. Squad members include goalkeeper Filip De Wilde (Sporting Lisbon), full back Bertrand Crasson (Napoli), full back Philippe Albert (Newcastle), defender Regis Genaux (Udinese), Alberto De Roover (Nac Breda), midfielder Gunther Schepens (Karlsruhe), striker Giles De Bilde (PSV Eindhoven) and Fiorentina's Oliveira, who, by the way, misses the first game against Ireland because of a second yellow card picked up against Wales on Saturday.

Solid, competitive and with a terrific World Cup record, Belgium are not a side in irreparable decline but rather formidable opponents keen to continue an impressive tradition. Keep an eye out for their young striker Lokonda Mpenza (Standard Liege), a naturalised Belgian of Zairean origins. Keep an eye out, too, for "Mac The Knife".