With the announcement of Eden Hazard’s international retirement coupled with an embarrassing group stage exit of the 2022 World Cup, one thing is clear. The much-anticipated Belgium golden generation has missed its last chance at World Cup glory. With this latest failure, the squad ends what should have been a prosperous period with only a third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup to show for it.
Belgium Golden Generation Ends In Failure
An Ageing Core
While there is still talent to be found in the squad, their once youthful spine is about to age out of their primes. Toby Alderweireld is 33, Jan Vertonghen is 35, Thibaut Courtois is 30, Kevin De Bruyne is 31 (and may be a choke artist), Romelu Lukaku is 29, and Hazard is stepping away from international football.
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While there might be just enough left in the tank for a Euro 2024 run, it is clear that this was the nation’s last chance at World Cup glory, at least for the foreseeable future.
Underperforming on The Big Stage
For a team loaded with so much talent, it must be remarked that Belgium have performed poorly at major tournaments. They failed to qualify for the European Championship in 2012, they were then eliminated in the Quarter-Final of the World Cup in Brazil. They suffered two more Quarter-Final exits in both the 2016 and 2021 Euros, with a third-placed finish in the 2018 World Cup sandwiched in between.
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Despite often entering tournaments as “dark horses” or outright favourites, the Red Devils couldn’t get the job done on the pitch.
Is There Talent Waiting to Step Up?
With this Belgium golden generation coming to an end, many fans will look to the future. The question must be asked, however, is there even a bright future for this national team? Looking at their latest squad, there might be. Youri Tielemans may be ready to make the step up to help carry the team. Meanwhile, Charles De Ketelaere and Jeremy Doku wait in the wings.
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It is unlikely that we ever see as many top-class talents in their prime for this country as we did in the late 2010s, but there is talent ready and waiting to step up.
Where it Went Wrong for Belgium Golden Generation
Ultimately, the killer for the side, currently without a manager, is that they could never get all of their top players on form at the same time. Hazard’s best days were at Chelsea, which he left in 2019. Courtois was dumped by The Blues before taking time to find his footing at Real Madrid.
Vertonghen and Alderweireld were an amazing centre-back pairing, but only for a season or two. Things never seemed to click on all parts of the field for them, with the usual mindset being that they would come good in the next tournament.
One thing is for certain, it is time for a rebuild and probably a new vision. Focus on getting the last drops of quality from the Lukaku’s of the world while giving your younger players a chance to finally make their mark.
