MOSCOW: When the referee blew his whistle to signal that it was France who had advanced to the final of the 2018 World Cup, the many cameramen covering the match got into position to film their emphatic celebrations.
On the other half of the field, Belgium’s golden generation were left alone with their despair. Romelu Lukaku had a blank look as he stared at the men wearing blue congratulating each other. Yannick Carrasco grimaced in pain. Roberto Martinez silently shook hands with his backroom staff before going on to console his players.
There weren’t any tears like when Brazil or Uruguay lost. Just that sinking feeling of disappointment. In any other World Cup, Belgium would have been patting themselves on their backs for matching their best-ever World Cup run (they had reached the last-four of the 1984 edition as well). This was Belgium, a country of 11 million people that former French president Charles de Gaulle had once famously described as “a country invented by the British to annoy the French”.
That Belgium reached the final four ahead of footballing superpowers like Uruguay, beating five-time champions Brazil, only to be downed by one of most-stacked squads in France, is something that would normally be celebrated. Not this bunch, though. For them, this defeat is suffocating.
“The players are disappointed of course, because we did not come here to reach the semifinals,” Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said after the game.
“The focus of the group was about winning the tournament, not about being happy or getting in the top four. So the mood is very sad.” The clock is ticking for Belgium’s golden generation. This was the World Cup where they were all in their prime. This was the tournament they were supposed to take by storm.
What would hurt them most is that for most of it, they looked like the best team. Eden Hazard was everybody’s favourite for the Golden Ball. Against Brazil, Kevin de Bruyne played like Pep Guardiola was managing the national team. Romelu Lukaku was unplayable at times, dragging defenders around the field like ragdolls. At the very back, in an event where most big-name goalkeepers failed, Thibaut Courtois was living up to his billing.
But like the Euros two years ago, Belgium failed when it mattered. Then it was in the quarterfinal against Wales, when they were widely regarded as having a relatively easy run to the final. Against France, voices that had rung loud throughout the tournament suddenly went silent. De Bruyne was back in the heart of midfield, condemned to obscurity. Lukaku was hardly to be seen. Moussa Dembele was the worst player on the pitch.
And Hazard waged a lone war before going silent in the second half. For a lot of these players, Euro 2020 will be their last chance at international silverware. In two years, Vincent Kompany will be 34, Jan Vertonghen 33. De Bruyne and Hazard will be just months away from turning 30.
The team’s collective prime was now. Football history is littered with examples of golden generations going to waste. Portugal’s ‘90s side of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, and England in the noughties with David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney are recent examples. It would be a shame if this uber-talented Belgian side was to find its place in that list.
2: No of times Belgium have lost in WC semis.
14: Belgium have scored most goals in Russia.
Martinez praise for Hazard’s mentality
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez praised the “winning mentality” of captain Eden Hazard, with Real Madrid reportedly mulling a move for the Chelsea star. “He’s one of the most complete footballers in the modern game,” Martinez said.
“He’s probably one of the best footballers in one-v-one situations. He brings that understanding of how to break defensive systems down.”