Belgium missed out on the opening group of the men’s World Cup after playing out a goalless draw with Croatia on Thursday.
Group F was won by Morocco with seven points, which beat Canada 2–1. Croatia was the second team to advance with five points. Belgium collected four points and Canada had zero.
Coached Belgium since 2016 Roberto Martinez announced that he would leave the position as soon as the country dropped out of the continuation.
– This was my last match in charge of the national team, I can no longer continue. It’s time for me to accept that this was the last game, Martinez said, according to the AP news agency.
According to Martinez, the result did not affect the decision.
– I would have quit anyway, no matter what happened. Even if we had become world champions. I made a decision before the World Cup, Martinez said, according to Reuters.
Under Martinez, Belgium advanced to the top four at the World Cup four years ago and knocked out England in the bronze medal match of the tournament.
Belgium’s play has stalled
These games were probably the last in which Belgium’s “golden generation” could have won. Few of the key players were in their prime and especially the defense was full of experience. After the match against Croatia, for example Jan Vertong hinted (you switch to another service) ending his national team career.
– These same players will no longer win the championship. Maybe the WC bronze was the maximum this generation could reach. Now a generational change is forced, Urheilu’s expert Jonne Kunnas says.
He reminds that the midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are still the best in the world in their respective fields. For other playing places, you can no longer find players of the same level as before in Belgium, Kunnas estimates.
– The team’s problem was that the number one players were not fit. If for example Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard had been in top form, Belgium’s game would have looked different – even if they had done exactly the same things as they do now.
After the match against Morocco, Kunnas stated that Lukaku is a significant part of Belgium’s attacking game. Against Croatia, he was able to create very good goal-scoring situations for the team with his high-quality movement.
– Lukaku got such chances that a goal should have been scored from them. Belgium should have been able to grab the next place.
Kunnas estimates that in recent years, Belgium has somehow stuck to the same methods and players in its playing, and has not been able to reform.
– Belgium has not been able to consistently bring new players to the national team. Rebuilding the team requires a lot of work if several players leave at once.
Morocco surprised, Croatia did not convince
Croatia dominated the game against Belgium in every aspect in the first half. Croatia was more dangerous with the ball and was able to keep the opposition out of goal posts.
– There was no problem with ball functions, the midfield game rolled and by Ivan Perisic the midfield always brought a threat to Belgium’s defense, Kunnas said.
Problems arose, however, when Croatia had to go on the defensive in the second period. Belgium was able to play balls between the defensive lines, and thus into the goal posts. Defending your own penalty area was “unacceptably bad” and you have to be able to improve it, Kunnas described.
– You don’t dare to predict a long shot in the playoffs, although it is still possible. After this game, I don’t feel that Croatia is the final favorite in these games.
Morocco, who won the group, convinced the expert. Morocco has top individuals such as the defensive end Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui and the attack head Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri. In addition, the country plays well as a team.
– The field balance is fine and it is good to continue to the playoffs. Maybe I don’t think they will go to the top four or even from the next stage.
Belgian media VRT NWS says (you switch to another service), that the country is restless like Sunday. According to the media, hundreds of Moroccan supporters celebrated the group victory in the streets of Brussels and Antwerp.
– The mood is cheerful, but close to dark, VRT NWS writes.