LONDON — For a small country, Belgium has a remarkable and growing influence on what soccer is today.
It was a Belgian player, Jean-Marc Bosman, who 20 years ago convinced a European court that players should have the right to be free agents at the end of their contracts. It swung the balance of power from the clubs to the players.
The current group of Belgian players are very good indeed, and the country is among the favorites to win the European Championship next year. Among the stars are:
•Eden Hazard, the Chelsea winger who was voted the outstanding player in England’s Premier League last season.