Belgium's whistle-stop visit to finals

HAMBURG, June 9 (Reuters) Belgium may be missing at the World Cup for the first time since 1978 but they are represented in Germany and will play key roles at Argentina's opening game against the Ivory Coast tomorrow.

The Group C match will be officiated by Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere and his two assistant referees, Peter Hermans and Walter Vromans.

De Bleeckere will also be joined by fellow countryman, Dr Werner Helsen, the man in charge of making sure all World Cup match officials are physically and mentally up to standard.

With the ''Red Devils'' missing in Germany, all Belgian eyes are on how De Bleeckere performs. The 40-year-old is the first Belgian official in 16 years to make the finals. Marcel Van Langenhove was the man in the middle in Italy in 1990.

But De Bleeckere nearly did not make the finals because of a hamstring injury and had to come through a late fitness test.

''It was touch and go for a while and I was very anxious,'' De Bleeckere said.

''The interest in me has been huge and there is a lot of pressure but I hope to give a good account of myself and make Belgium proud.'' He is used to the pressure and was in charge during the Turkey and Switzerland qualifier in Istanbul which ended in violence on and off the pitch.

The final piece of the Belgian jigsaw is Nicolas Cornu. He is charge of media operations at the Belgian football association but has been appointed by FIFA as a media officer for the Ivory Coast during the tournament.

REUTERS DH KN1637