Only to stop united: Belgium's Torgarant Lukaku
The coronation has so far been denied to Belgium's “golden generation”. Since the “Red Devils” moved back into focus almost ten years ago, they have been chasing a title. In 2014 and 2016, they traveled to the World Cup and European Championship as their secret favorites, and fourth place was the greatest of emotions. The world number one has hardly lost a game for years. Eden Hazard and Co. are overripe for great things. But time seems to be pressing.
The once young team is not yet out of date, but one or two players seem to have passed their zenith. Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen, Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel are over 30, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku just below them. With an average age of 28.7 years, the Belgians now have the oldest and most experienced squad of all EM teams. You are under pressure to succeed.
“I think it's 'now or never' for them. Many of the players are now the perfect age to make it,” said star coach Jose Mourinho on British sports radio “talkSPORT” about the Belgians. Their way to the European Championship was practically flawless with ten wins in ten qualifying games and 40: 3 goals. At the EM, the group with Denmark, Russia and Finland should not be an indicator for the title candidate. The Danes will be the toughest competitor.
Under Roberto Martinez, who has been national coach for almost five years, Belgium only lost four of 56 games. It hurt the end in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals against eventual champion France as a better team. At the World Cup four years earlier, Hazard and Co. was the last stop in the quarter-finals against Argentina, and at the EM 2016 also in the quarter-finals surprisingly against Wales. Then Martinez took over.
The Spaniard trusts his proven squad. Of the eight Belgians with the most international matches in the country's history, no fewer than six are in the EM squad. The country's top two goal scorers, record scorer Lukaku (60 goals) and Hazard (32), are also still active. Hazard in particular shows the Belgians' problem: important supports do not necessarily go into the tournament in top form.
The Real star has been plagued by injuries since moving from Chelsea to Madrid. Hazard was not used regularly until May. No reason for Martinez to doubt him. In the last European Championship test, a 1-0 win against vice world champions Croatia, the offensive star only played an eight-minute short game after a year and a half break in the team jersey. “It doesn't matter how long Eden plays, but that he plays. It's a big step mentally,” said Martinez. “When will Eden be ready for 90 minutes again? It's hard to say,” said the coach.
De Bruyne broke his face in the Champions League final and threatens to fail in the first few games. Martinez probably doesn't plan properly with the Manchester City professional until the knockout phase. Dortmund's Witsel has not played a game since January after an Achilles tendon rupture. Positive for the Belgians: With the 24-year-old midfielder Youri Tielemans from Leicester City or the 19-year-old winger Jeremy Doku from Stade Rennes, young people are also ready.
One bank is Romelu Lukaku. The 28-year-old from Inter Milan is almost unstoppable for opposing defenders. 60 goals in 93 international matches speak for the qualities of the 1.90-meter man. Lukaku is said to be the guarantee that Belgium will hit the jackpot. The goalscorer himself said after the success against Croatia: “Now it's about getting focused and getting all players one hundred percent fit. Then a lot is possible.”
