Belgium’s World Cup campaign drew to a close on Saturday as they secured a 2-0 win over England in Saint Petersburg to wrap up third place. The finish crowned this their most successful World Cup in their history, eclipsing their fourth place finish in 1986. It was certainly a memorable campaign in Russia, of that there is no doubt, and with Euro 2020 around the corner, they’re expected to be favourites to lift the trophy in two years’ time.
Roberto Martinez may have been a contentious appointment, but to guide Belgium to third deserves adulation and praise. We can expect to see the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Thomas Meunier all at the peak of their game at the European Championship in two years time, while Youri Tielemans, Michy Batshuayi and Adnan Januzaj, among others, will have hoped to have improved sufficiently over the next 24 months to secure their spot in Martinez’s squad.
However, it won’t be such good news for Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderwerield, Thomas Vermaelen, Axel Witsel and Mousa Dembele, who’ll each be the wrong side of 30 by the time Euro 2020 kicks off. While they will still have a key role to play, it leaves Martinez in a interesting predicament as he looks to guide Belgium to success.
A third placed finish isn’t to be looked down upon. Germany secured third in 2010, before going all the way in 2014, so Belgium will hope history is on their side in four-and-a-half years time, but it could be that this was the last opportunity for a number of the country’s golden generation to land World Cup success.
Their 2-0 win over England, as comfortable as it was, was scant consolation in perhaps the tournament’s most pointless match and Russia 2018 feels like something of a missed opportunity for Belgium. Having topped their group, fought back valiantly to defeat Japan at the death and defeated pre-tournament favourites Brazil, it felt as though the Red Devils had the momentum to carry themselves through to the final.
They came unstuck against a resolute and efficient France side in the semi-finals and a podium finish isn’t to be scoffed at considering they were once again one of the dark horses to lift the trophy in Russia, yet this group of players is unlikely to have such the chance to be crowned world champions. The attacking personnel may be approaching their prime, but the concern comes at the back. The defensive core of Alderweireld, Kompany and Vertonghen, all of who have impressed this summer, are nearing their twilight years and while they can be expected to feature in some capacity at Euro 2020, it’ll be a stretch for them to be at their best for Qatar 2022.
So while a third placed finish should be commended, and success at Euro 2020 is very much within their grasp, Russia 2018 felt like the last opportunity for Belgium’s golden generation to leave the mark in world football, even if it was their best World Cup in their history. They’ll look to capitalise on the immense talent within the squad in two years’ time with a number of their top players aiming to leave international football with their head high, but Russia 2018 feels like a ‘what could have been’ tournament for Belgium.
That being said, the players received a heroes welcome upon their return to Belgium as videos on Twitter from Meunier and Hazard showed, and it was a return that was richly deserved. With a bit of luck, they’ll do so as European champions in 2020 to put the cherry on the icing on the cake that has been, arguably, the finest group of players in Belgium’s history.
