Romelu Lukaku hit the side of the dugout and was consoled as he sat with his shirt pulled over his head after the 0-0 draw with Croatia and it was clearly an outpouring of frustration for his role in the Belgium’s early exit from the World Cup.
But perhaps it was also frustration at what feels like an untimely end of an era for Belgium’s ‘golden generation’.
Belgium’s failure is the latest disappointment for a group of talented players who have repeatedly been let down when it really matters on the world stage.
Manager Roberto Martinez embraced his players individually full-time in what he later confirmed was his ‘farewell’ to the expiration of his contract.
During his six years in charge, Martinez has had a team packed with superstars such as Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois and on-loan Inter Milan striker Lukaku.
And yet they have never reached a major final despite being ranked world number one from September 2018 to March 2022. Their best finish was third at the World Cup in 2018.
Belgium’s starting XI had an average age of 31 years and 95 days against Croatia – the oldest of any side at a World Cup since 2010.
Is this the end of a golden era for Belgian football?
“No, you have players like Amadou Onana and Jeremy Doku. The ‘golden generation’ is doing something to bring in the next generation,” Martinez said.
“That’s not necessarily what happens on the pitch. Legacy can be left in many ways. Now the standards have to keep rising and the young players have to continue on that line.”
“Time for a New Era”
Belgium’s chance seemed to have come to Russia four years ago.
After impressively beating Brazil in the quarter-finals, they lost to eventual world champions France in the last four, conceding the only goal from a corner after dominating possession.
It was a step up from the quarter-finals in 2014 and the 2016 European Championship.
But time was running out last year when Belgium again failed to get past the delayed Euro 2020 quarter-finals and headed to Qatar with an aging squad.
De Bruyne and Hazard are now 31, while centre-backs Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are 35 and 33 respectively.
Manchester City’s De Bruyne said earlier this week that the team were “too old” to seriously consider winning this World Cup, leading to reports of unrest within the club. ‘crew.
But it’s a view shared by some Belgian fans.
Supporter Amanda Sharp told BBC Sport ahead of the 0-0 draw with Croatia that it was “the last chance to do something with these players”.
Her husband Gage said it was “time for a new era” as Martinez had “failed” to deliver with this talented set of players.
“We would have seen the real Belgium”
Despite not reaching the round of 16, Martinez said ‘there are no regrets’ and Belgium can ‘come on with their heads held high’.
“We wanted to pass but I’m sure the other national teams wanted to pass and this is the tournament,” he told BBC One.
“In the previous World Cup we won three games in the group stage, we wanted to go all the way.”
The Belgian tournament never really started in Qatar. They have won just one of their three group matches and scored only once.
“The first games we were scared and not the team we are. We listened to the noise from outside and we felt responsible. We played thinking that we could lose and be eliminated and that’s what which cost us,” Martinez said.
“I felt like if we had been there, we would have seen the real Belgium.”
Former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas told BBC One that “Belgium’s campaign as a whole has not been good enough”.
He added: “There are clueless players in this Belgian team, but when they look in the mirror they will realize it just wasn’t good enough and that’s why they’re missing.”
