Last Tuesday, three bombs went off in the Belgian capital, Brussels: two in the airport, one in a subway station. A third bomb at the airport was deactivated before it could detonate. So far, more than 30 people have been killed as a result of the attacks, with hundreds wounded.
This Tuesday, the Belgian National Team will play Portugal in a friendly in Leiria, Portugal. The match was supposed to take place in Brussels.
How is the Belgian National Team supposed to respond in a situation like this? Everyone copes differently. For some, they will play, but their hearts and minds will be far away from the pitch. For others, football will be the perfect distraction, a way to forget the atrocity that occurred in their home country, if only for a short while.
They have already responded with messages of love. Of all the stances taken by world leaders, one of the most reasonable and loving messages came from Belgium captain Vincent Kompany.
1) Horrified and revolted. Innocent people paying the price again. My thoughts are with the families of the victims. #Brussels
— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) March 22, 2016
2) I wish for Brussels to act with dignity. We are all hurting, yet we must reject hate and its preachers. As hard as it may be. #Brussels
— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) March 22, 2016
Understandably, football has come second this week for Belgium. But this friendly will be a step forward. After horrific events, sporting events are often the first signs of returning normalcy. Yes, the game is in Portugal, but it will be played by Belgians, and it will be watched by Belgians.
After the week they've had, Belgian citizens need something to cheer for. After the game, they can go back to living in fear of being blown up on the subway, or tending to the medical needs of loved ones, or planning funerals. When Belgium plays Portugal Tuesday, they can think about Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Vermaelen and Thibaut Courtois.
At somepoint during the game, they will probably catch themselves bemoaning the injuries to Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne. Then they will catch themselves and remember that there are more important concerns at hand.
But, at least for a few hours, it will be nice for their concerns to be trivial, instead of terrifying.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
