Belgium profit from family ties

Slender advantage
The 22-year-old KRC Genk striker gave his side a first-leg lead on three separate occasions in Mariupol on Saturday to ensure a slender advantage before Wednesday's play-off return in Lokeren. For Vandenbergh, the third goal was particularly memorable, not only because it proved the winner on the night but because it came with his head.

Team first
"My heading still has to improve," he said, showing an air of modesty about a brilliant personal performance which underlined why he has already been capped six times at senior level by his country. "The whole team played excellently and was very efficient. OK, I scored three goals, but that is what I am up front for."

Senior goal
Despite his reluctance to accept the spotlight, Vandenbergh is proud of his achievements with the U21 team, having scored 14 goals in 13 matches for the Young Devils, who went unbeaten through their ten qualification games in winning Group 7 from Serbia and Montenegro. "I am allowed to say that I am a little bit important," he said, still playing down a run of form which brought his first full international goal, a splendid back-heel, against San Marino on 7 September.

Scoring genes
His instinct for goals underlines that scoring is in his genes. His father is former Belgium striker Erwin Vandenbergh, Europe's leading scorer in the 1979/80 season when he found the net 39 times for K. Lierse SK. His son's scoring prowess began with KVC Westerlo when he hit 14 in 43 matches and, since 2002, he has averaged a goal every two games in nearly 100 appearances for Genk.

World Cup woe
But with Wednesday approaching fast, Vandenbergh is focused solely on international rather than club commitments. He believes qualifying for the next summer's U21 finals could go some way towards easing Belgium's disappointment at the senior squad missing out on the 2006 FIFA World Cup – although he accepts the job is not done against Ukraine.

'Good group'
"The fact that they scored two goals shows that it is not over yet," Vandenbergh said. "But it would be beautiful if we could qualify for the European Championship as compensation for missing the World Cup. We have a good group of players that could reach the last four. When you are unbeaten for such a long time, you should not be afraid of countries like the Netherlands, Portugal or Italy."