Have Belgium’s golden generation missed their chance of silverware?
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When Roberto Martinez’s side finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, there was a sense that Belgium’s golden generation would come back stronger.
But following a disappointing quarter-final exit from Euro 2020, you can’t help but feel that Belgium’s star-studded yet aging squad have missed their chance of glory.
With a population of just under 11.5 million people, the Red Devils have been punching above their weight in recent times.
Led by world-class stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium have established themselves as a genuine force in European football.
In fact, Martinez’s team currently find themselves atop the FIFA World Rankings following years of impressive results and dominant displays.
However, when you break down Belgium’s recent Euro 2020 squad, it is clear that Martinez won’t be able to call upon the same group of players again.
• Breaking down Belgium’s aging Euro 2020 squad
Remarkably, ten players in Belgium’s squad for the European Championship were aged 30 or over. That means roughly 38% of the players were 30+.
Interestingly, four of those players were defenders – Thomas Vermaelen (35), Jan Vertonghen (34), Toby Alderweireld (32) and Dedryck Boyata (30).
The other players were Dries Mertens (34), Axel Witsel (32), Nacer Chadli (31), Christian Benteke (30), Eden Hazard (30) and Kevin De Bruyne (30).
There were also 15 players between the ages of 24 and 29, equating to almost 58% of the entirety of Martinez’s squad.
It is also worth pointing out that Rennes forward Jeremy Doku (19) was the only teenager named in Belgium’s Euro 2020 squad.
• What does the future hold for Belgium?
With the 2022 World Cup still 18 months away, it’s safe to say that many of the current Belgium squad won’t feature for their country in Qatar.
Veterans like Vermaelen, Vertonghen and Mertens have almost certainly played at their last major tournament, while players such as Witsel and Alderweireld aren’t likely to continue.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. In Thibaut Courtois (29), Belgium still boast one of the best goalkeepers on the planet – and he is still getting better.
With Lukaku (28) continuing to improve, too, the Red Devils know they can rely on their all-time record goalscorer.
Let’s not forget that both Hazard and De Bruyne also have a plenty to offer, while Doku looks set to have a big career ahead of him.
If Martinez can successfully steer Belgium through this testing transitional period, they could come out the other side with plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
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