As the most stable existence among the main framework of European powers, the "European Red Devils", who sniped Brazil four years ago and won the third place, almost fulfilled the talent of the "golden generation" at the highest point. Unfortunately, in the face of the iron law of prosperity and decline, the aging "European Red Devils" have deteriorated in recent years, although the middle and lower reaches of the opponents can still be crushed, FIFA rankings can also lead Europe, but from the European Cup to the UEFA Nations League, Roberto Martinez, who has been ripped off his bottoms every time in a strong conversation, has felt a chill before the World Cup gong. What kind of "last dance" will the golden generation, which has been working together for more than 10 years, stage in Qatar?
In the face of the ageing ageing that is the ageing old-fashioned, Martinez remains unmoved. Although Vermaelen, one of the three elders of the defense that year, has put on the coach's uniform counselor, the 35-year-old Fairtonheim and the 33-year-old Alderweireld are still untouchable. Firth and Debaste have the potential to be good centre-backs, but Martinez will only give one of them a chance at most – after all, Denayer and Boyata who are older than them have also waited a long time, and now they are even out of the squad.
The most embarrassing thing is naturally the omnipotent Eden Hazard in Russia 4 years ago: despite Ancelotti and Martinez's repeated "rescues", the Red Devils No. 10 is particularly bleak in the club and national team, only the frequency of injuries is as stable as ever. Martinez can't expect Hazard to play the lone hero, and the passes, assists and goals that used to be under the big scenes are already difficult for strongmen.
With all their old comrades in decline, it's no wonder that Belgium is becoming De Bruyne's one-man team, and the core of Manchester City can not only "make pie" for his teammates, but also accustomed to changing the game with goals. However, since playing in the European Championship with an injury last year, De Bruyne, whose load has not increased, has actually been a little weak, and continuous output has become no longer easy.
As one of Belgium's longboards, Lukaku's recovery to a few percent due to injury-related suspension is the team's most unpredictable factor, less the "bullying" of the last silver boot, the European Red Devils' offensive stability is also a big question mark. After all, Brighton's civilian hero Trosar, Eredivisie silver boot Aupenda and Milan new signing De Ketlare, although they have their own strengths, are not Martinez's first choice at the moment.
The essence of the Belgian team's "strong inward" has been exposed in the two matches of the UEFA Nations League and the Netherlands in 2022: it is often beaten in the face of the opponent's strong impact, the inability to organize a sustained offensive, and the defensive line is often distracted, all of which are ominous omen before the collapse of an aging team. In the latest World Cup ranking of the Guardian, Belgium, which ranked only 12th, was not only far behind by the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, etc., but even ranked behind Serbia and Switzerland, only slightly higher than Portugal.
Of course, this Belgian team is not good, and there is also an almost invulnerable Courtois pocket. In the four years since moving to the Bernabeu, the Golden Glove of the last World Cup has played almost against the sky, and he is also one of the few "golden generation" who can still be relied on in the next four years.
Today, too much talk about the aging of the Belgian team and the replacement after the World Cup is no longer relevant. Using practice has always been the law that the successive managers of the Belgian team believe in, and thinking about the little Hazard, Doku and others who are also expected to go high and low, squeezing the "veteran" until the last drop of oil, is actually the most helpless but safest decision.
Belgium World Cup squad
goalkeeper
Courtois/Real Madrid (La Liga)/92.05.11
Miniole/Bruges/88.03.06
Castiles/Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)/92.06.25
fullback
Fairtonheim/Anderlecht/87.04.24
Alderwellade/Antwerp/89.03.02
Meunier/Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)/91.09.12
Castagne/Leicester City (Premier League) / 95.12.05
Tate/Rennes (Ligue 1)/00.05.25
Debaste/Anderlecht/03.10.24
Firth/Leicester City (Premier League)/98.04.03
midfielder
Witsel/Atletico Madrid (La Liga)/89.01.12
Kevin De Bruyne/Manchester City (Premier League)/91.06.28
Carrasco/Atletico Madrid (La Liga)/93.09.04
Tielemans/Leicester City (Premier League)/97.05.07
Donker/Aston Villa (Premier League)/95.04.15
Farnaken/Bruges/92.08.24
Trosar/Brighton (Premier League)/94.12.04
Decetlarre/AC Milan (Serie A)/01.03.10
Amadou Onana/Everton (Premier League)/01.08.16
striker
Eden Hazard/Real Madrid (La Liga)/91.01.07
Mertens/Galatasaray (Turkish Super League)/87.05.06
Romelu Lukaku/Inter Milan (Serie A)/93.05.13
Bachuvai/Fenerbahce (Tuchao)/93.10.02
Tolgang Hazard/Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)/93.03.29
Doku/Rennes (Ligue 1)/02.05.27
Aupenda/Lens (Ligue 1)/00.02.16