Twilight of Belgium’s Golden Generation

Daunting Squad

When you look at a team sheet with the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Kevin de Bruyne, one expects them to win trophies with ease and dominate world football, but surprisingly that’s not the case. 

This team of so-called “generational talents” is considered a national team closest to the standards of a top club. 

However, they are still in quest of an international trophy despite being subjected as favourites in every competition they have played since Euro 2016. 

Belgium’s Unsatisfactory show in international competitions

The Belgium National Football Team has been one of the most dominant teams for the past five years with a well-knit group of individuals, and currently, they sit at the top of the table in the FIFA world rankings, which they have managed to retain from the past three years.

Their firepower in attack, their experience in the backline, their skilful midfield, and the ever-dependable Courtois in goal let them be the devastating team they are.

But the consistency they manage to achieve in friendlies and qualifiers somehow fade away in major tournaments. Their performances in the past three major tournaments is a predicament to it.

Quarterfinal exit to underdog Wales in Euro 2016, a narrow semi-final loss against France in the 2018 World Cup and another quarterfinal upset from the hands of the eventual champions, Italy, in the Euro 2020 are astonishing results for a team of this calibre.

Is the manager to be blamed?

One of the reasons for the lack of silverware in recent times can be their manager: Roberto Martinez. The Spaniard’s tactics have not been impactful in critical situations, resulting in the team repeatedly exiting in the knockout stages. 

Is it complacency or over-confidence in his players? 

It might as well be both with the kind of results he has been getting with this quality team. There’s a dire need from the former Everton manager to deliver an international trophy before he loses the board’s confidence.

Red devils and the Proteas

Eden Hazard and co have an uncanny resemblance to the South African cricket team, which could not manage to win any major world cricket trophies despite having a generation of match-winning players in every fragment of the team. The Belgians would be looking to change this barren run of trophies shortly.

Belgium’s Final chance for redemption

Belgium has come a long way from being considered perennial dark horses who could upset any team on their day to being consistent winners.

Yet, they are still miles from that elusive international trophy they so badly want to get their hands on. With the form of players such as their captain dipping and ages of Vertonghen and Vermaelen, their veteran centre backs, not being on their side, the World Number 1 team has to play to their full potential in Qatar the coming year and bag the most prestigious world football trophy to silence their critics. 

Read More: World’s Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World (2021)