Jan Vertonghen is confident Belgium can stop Lionel Messi in Saturday night’s World Cup quarter-final showdown in Brasilia.
Messi has been in excellent form in Brazil, scoring four of Argentina’s seven goals so far, leading to accusations – from amongst others Diego Maradona – that they are over-reliant on the Barcelona superstar.
Twenty-eight years ago Argentina relied on Maradona, who scored five goals to help the South American nation to World Cup glory in Mexico '86.
But four years earlier Belgium successfully shackled Maradona by surrounding him whenever he had the ball and a picture taken of six Belgians surrounding him is one of the iconic images of that World Cup in Spain.
Tottenham defender Vertonghen – who has emerged as a doubt for the game – says they can stop Messi.
"I think Messi has been outstanding so far in this tournament. He has been their main man," Vertonghen said.
"But if we defend like we did in our previous matches we will stop him, (Sergio) Aguero, (Angel) Di Maria and (Gonzalo) Higuain. I'm convinced of that."
The plan to stifle Maradona in Barcelona back in 1982 worked but Belgium boss Marc Wilmots says that match has not been talked about.
"We have never spoken about it to any of the players. It's history," Wilmots said.
Belgium won every one of their group games and had it not been for an astonishing goalkeeping display from Tim Howard in Salvador, the Red Devils would have hammered the United States in the last round.
Belgium have only made it to the last four once before - in 1986 when Maradona got his revenge in Mexico - and Vertonghen is desperate to match that effort on Saturday.
"We don't want things to stop," Vertonghen added. "We are ready for the rest. We want to play even better.
"We have been working hard over the last few years and this is the reward for that hard work."
Wilmots meanwhile has high hopes that Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard will shine on Saturday – the boss revealed he gave the player a pep talk on Thursday night.
"I have followed Eden for a long time and in the last 18 months he has improved," Wilmots said. "I talked to him last night and told him how he could improve even more.
"You will hopefully see a result on the pitch. He is eager."
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