The Belgian team plays its all out against that of Croatia in group F of the 2022 World Cup, this December 1 at Al Rayyan. The Red Devils, disappointing since the start of this tournament and undermined by internal tensions, must beat the Croats if they want to be certain of qualifying for the round of 16. Elimination in the first round would plunge the Belgian golden generation, third in the 2018 World Cup but who has never won a major title, into doubt.
From our special correspondent,
This is the story of a small country of 11 million inhabitants whose footballers have been delighting football fans around the world for nearly a decade. The story of a golden generation predicted for glory since a very promising 2014 World Cup and a quarter-final elimination against Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The story of a Belgian team that has missed out on its destiny several times, whether in the Euro 2016 and 2021 (elimination in the quarter-finals) or at the 2018 World Cup, where she finished third after falling to ultra-realistic French people.
The story of players whose stars, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard in particular, underlined too awkwardly, on the sidelines of this World Cup 2022, that Belgium had lost its splendour. “Outsiders” – according to De Bruyne – including the start of the competition, with a sluggish 1-0 victory against modest Canada and a 2-0 defeat against Morocco, recalled the time when the Red Devils did not scare many people. A group that seems to be in difficulty in Qatar, four years after having come close to genius in Russia.
Capital meeting between players
This December 1, 2022, Belgian football is at a turning point. If its most eminent representatives do not beat Croatia, vice-world champion, they will most likely leave the competition by the back door. And this may be the last international outing for a dozen of them. From defenders Jan Vertonghen (35) and Toby Alderweireld (33) to forwards Eden Hazard (31) and Dries Mertens (35), passing through midfielders Kevin De Bruyne (31) and Axel Witsel (33), all are in the same galley – despite spades by the media – and will have to row together.
This is why a meeting was held on Monday, November 28, to calm tensions that have become public. ” It was not a crisis meeting as we could not read muchhowever, assured the side Timothy Castagne, one of the rising stars of this selection, at a press conference. I think it was important for everyone to be able to say things. But there were no insults either. There was nothing. It was just important to tell the truth. »
” Against Croatia, it will be simple. we have to win »
The truth, according to coach Roberto Martinez, would not be in the press and especially not in The Team. The French newspaper reported a ” heated argument in the Belgian locker room, after the Moroccan setback. An affirmation repeated abundantly by the media of the “flat country”, at first:
” France did a very good job with a story that became the main talking point of some media in Belgiumquipped the Spaniard, who evokes a ‘fake news‘. It shows that there is perhaps more desire to find negative news around this team than to bring the nation together, support this selection and enjoy the talent of the best generation we have ever had in football. Belgian. »
Unusually offensive, the one who has led the Red Devils since 2016 assured that his proteges are determined as ever: “ In the first two matches, we were afraid of losing. We did not take advantage of this World Cup. But tomorrow, against Croatia, it will be simple. A draw means the end and therefore we must win. These are the best matches to have fun. »
Timothy Castagne, he admits in a new access of frankness that the Belgians can do much better: “ Maybe we weren’t tight enough. To go far in a World Cup, it was not enough, I think. You really have to want to go to war for your teammates. And maybe we weren’t enough… ” He concludes : ” We now need action on the ground. »
To (re) read ► 2022 World Cup: match schedule and results