It is safe to say that Belgium have not been doing well at the World Cup this time around. In 2018, they had managed to finish third in the tournament but if they don’t win their last group game against Croatia, there is a very good chance that they won’t be making the last 16 this time. That is not what fans would have expected from one of the most talented teams on the planet. Two Real Madrid stars in Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard are part of their squad.
To be honest, Belgium were never one of the favourites coming into the tournament as the feeling has been that their Golden Generation’s chance is gone. A number of those top players are no longer what they were in their prime.
It has shown in their performances as well. Their display against Canada was nothing to write home about even though they won, and it was followed by a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco, to send them to the brink of elimination from the tournament.
The situation is far from ideal and rumours broke out recently that there had been a confrontation in the dressing room between certain players after the game. That does not seem to have been the case though. As reported by Reuters, Hazard said to the media regarding the issue:
"“Nothing happened in the dressing-room.“Only the coach (Roberto Martinez) spoke. I spoke to Kevin De Bruyne, he does believe in the group.”"
Real Madrid star denies rumours of dressing room fight at the World Cup
There had been some confusing comments made by the likes of Hazard and De Bruyne leading up to the match against Morocco.
Those comments might not have done the team’s confidence any good, as they put in a very poor display in the defeat against Morocco. Neither Hazard nor De Bruyne managed to impress individually either.
This team was Belgium’s Golden Generation and for a decade, they had one of the most talented squads in football. They could not convert it into silverware though and now, it looks like this phase of their footballing history is coming to a sad end.
Their final group game is against Croatia and if they do not win, they are almost certain to be eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage itself.