1930

Having won the gold medal when they hosted the 1920 Olympics, Belgium entered the very first World Cup tournament, but fared badly in Uruguay where they lost both of their matches, 3-0 to the USA and 1-0 to Paraguay.

1934

Drew 4-4 here in Dalymount. Losing to the Netherlands by a goal less than we did, however, was what got them to Italy where a 5-2 defeat by Germany ended their interest in the first round.

1938

A 3-2 win over Luxembourg and a draw with the Netherlands earned them a place at the finals again, but host nation France beat them in their first game, 3-1, to put them out.

1950

Withdrew from the competition's most controversial tournament without playing a game.

1954

Came through the group stages comfortably with three wins in four games, but still hadn't mastered the finals, drawing 4-4 with England after extra-time and losing to Italy 4-1.

1958

Drawn with France and Iceland, the Belgians lost their opening game in Paris 63 and failed to salvage things in a 0-0 return leg.

1962

Things went from bad to worse with four straight defeats, against Sweden and Switzerland, leaving them bottom of their group.

1966

Beat Israel home and away, while honours were even with Bulgaria, but when they played their rivals for qualification a third time on neutral territory - in Florence - they lost 2-1, so Bulgaria went to England.

1970

Beat Finland twice, took three points out of four from Spain and beat Yugoslavia 3-0 in Brussels to qualify easily. In Mexico City, won their opening game 3-0 against El Salvador, lost their second 4-1 to the USSR and went out to a penalty against the hosts.

1974

Won home and away against Iceland and Norway, but, after a goalless draw with the Netherlands in Antwerp, travelled to Amsterdam in November 1973 knowing that the goal difference situation required a win. This game too, however, ended without a goal.

1978

Those pesky Dutch (the two countries have played 12 times in the World Cup alone) did it again, although far more convincingly. Belgium finished second in Group Four and stayed home for the summer.

1982

On a high after reaching the finals of the European Championships, where they were beaten 2-1 by West Germany, they emerge from a controversial group as winners, with France also qualifying. The Irish, in third, come away with nothing. In Spain, they beat Argentina in their opening game, but went out in the second stage after defeats by Poland and the USSR.

1986

Finish second on goal difference to Poland in group, but then beat Netherlands on away goals in two-legged playoff to progress. Back in Mexico, they have their best-ever finals tournament with wins over Iraq, USSR and Spain. Lost 2-0 to eventual champions Argentina in semi-fianls.

1990

Emerge unbeaten from eight Group Seven matches to qualify and win their opening games of the finals against South Korea and Uruguay. Defeat in their last group match against Spain sends them to Bologna where they meet England and lose by the only goal of the game.

1994

A six-match winning streak in the early games fairly much wraps up qualification for USA '94. Once there, the Belgians beat Morocco and the Netherlands, but then suffer a surprise defeat by Saudi Arabia. Lose to Germany in second round.

1998

Solid performance in group stages, but once again, the Dutch are the stumbling block with the old enemy winning in both Brussels and Rotterdam. Now the Irish stand between the Belgians and their 10th World Cup finals.

Overall record (qualifying tournament - finals). Played: 110 (81 - 29). Won: 55 (45 - 10). Drew: 18 (15 - 3). Lost: 37 (21 - 16).