Ryan Baldi: It is now or never for Belgium

THE glisten is beginning to fade from Belgium’s “golden generation”.

For a relatively small nation, with a population of around 11.5 million, Belgium has produced an inordinate number of supremely gifted footballers over the past 15 years. From stars of the world game like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku to vital and high-quality squad-fillers such as Axel Witsel, Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Meunier.

For years it has felt as though Belgium have been building towards an elusive major-tournament triumph. They have come close, finishing third at the 2018 World Cup, but they have yet to claim a title or even reach a final.

No other nation has topped the FIFA World Rankings without winning a World Cup or major continental competition. Belgium, with no such honours in their footballing history, have occupied the number one spot for three successive years.

Now, at Euro 2020, with many of their stars either of peak age or sliding closer to international retirement, it is time for them to deliver.

"We are stronger than we were at the last World Cup," manager Roberto Martinez told television channel RTBF after announcing his squad for this summer’s tournament. “Many of our players have more experience at the top level now.”

 

Roberto Martinez Stats At Belgium :

54 Matches ✅ 42 Wins 8 Draws ❌ 4 Loses ⚽ 158 Goals 43 Concededs Third at World Cup 2018 First at FIFA Rankings since September 2018 until now. pic.twitter.com/K4Az09j8cp

— (@dimasfdj) May 27, 2021

 

At the World Cup three years ago, Martinez’s men produced some scintillating football. They averaged three goals per game as they topped a Group G, ahead of England, with a 100 per cent record. In the knockout rounds, they edged out Japan in a 3-2 thriller before producing arguably the most complete performance of their current talent-rich era to beat Brazil 2-1.

Ultimately, though, they fell in the semi-final to a France side who could match them for sheer talent and outstrip them for street smarts and pragmatism.

Belgium qualified for Euro 2020 with ease, winning all ten of their qualification games and scoring 40 goals in the process. Although the sternest competition in their group came from Russia and Scotland teams with a talent pool far inferior to their own, what was most impressive was that Belgium conceded only three goals along the way, showing that perhaps lessons from 2018 have been learned and that they have finally acquired the kind of defensive solidity on which tournament success is usually built.

 

Group B at #EURO2020

1️⃣ Belgium 2️⃣ Denmark 3️⃣ Finland 4️⃣ Russia

Lukaku has scored in his last appearance against all three of Belgium's group opponents

Time to rack those goals up… pic.twitter.com/7Fm7UTbMAc

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 9, 2021

 

The trend continued in their most recent warm-up match, too, overcoming 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia 1-0 thanks to a scrappy, close-range Lukaku goal.

If the tactical pieces are at last falling into place for Belgium, it is not a moment too soon. Euro 2020 might well be the last tournament at which their incredible generation of stars are all present and within touching distance of their career peaks.

Martinez’s 26-man selection for the tournament includes 10 players aged 30 or over and four 29-year-olds. Captain Hazard, who has endured a difficult, injury-hit two years since his dream move to Real Madrid, is now 30. Defensive stalwarts Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are 32 and 34 respectively. Prolific forward Dries Mertens is also 34 and De Bruyne will celebrate his 30th birthday during the tournament.

Even Lukaku, who at 28 enjoyed arguably the best season of his career as he fired Inter Milan to the 2020-21 Serie A title, suggested in 2018 that the upcoming Euros might be his last international tournament.

Martinez appears to appreciate the air of last-chance finality about his squad, too.

“I came to Belgium for two years [in 2016],” he told The Times. “So whenever you ask about future planning, I’m the wrong man, I’m sure I’m going to give you the wrong answer.

 

If this Belgium squad end up not winning the Euros or the World cup, it'll be one of the biggest disappointments in world football. pic.twitter.com/Kzc0CITpQC

— The Thomas Tuchel (@London_is_Blues) June 4, 2021

 

“I’ve got a contract until the World Cup in Qatar but my commitment was always very clear. I had opportunities to leave in the last 18 months but it was the Euros. The commitment to doing the Euros is the only thing I’m sure about.”

Drawn in a group with Denmark, Finland and Russia, Belgium’s route to the knockout rounds should be easily negotiable. It is likely, though, that if both teams progress as expected, they will once again come up against France in the semi-finals.

If and when they face off against their tormentors of three years ago, Belgium must show that, as Martinez suggests, they are better than they were at the last World Cup, wiser, wilier and ready to crown their gilded generation.