Euro 2020: What next for aging, declining quarterfinalist Belgium?
Belgium – Positives and Negatives
All in all, Euro 2020 was another disappointing tournament from Belgium despite the abundance of talent among its ranks.
The Red Devils were eliminated in the quarters, three years on from their third-place finish in the FIFA World Cup. Belgium’s previous appearances haven’t been much successful either, exits in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Euro and the 2014 World Cup making it hard to judge progress.
Belgium is good, unquestionably. But do they have what it takes to win a major tournament? We are yet to see any signs if they do.
To the best fans, thank you. 🙏 #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/pDOWiyYGso
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 3, 2021
Another huge negative for Belgium is its aging backline. Martinez lined up at the Euro with his preferred 3-4-3 formation.
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The three center-backs he deployed in the quarterfinal were Toby Alderweireld (32), Thomas Vermaelen (35), and Jan Vertonghen (34).
While the three of them might survive the upcoming World Cup cycle, it is difficult to imagine them being around when the Euros return in 2024.
The good news for Belgium is that their golden generation will get at least another shot at glory.
The World Cup is just sixteen months away, and while changes are required, it won’t be surprising to see the Red Devils reach Qatar with a similar squad.
They are also likely to retain some of their best players for the next two tournament cycles. For all the talk of the golden generation coming to its end, the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, Axel Witsel, Thorgan Hazard, and Yannick Carrasco are still in their peak years.
At the same time, Youri Tielemans, Leander Dendoncker, and Jeremy Doku provide hope for the future.