Much-loved Belgium have one last chance to push their finals World Cup together this week after losing to Morocco with coach Roberto Martinez and his players under mounting pressure.
Anything but a win against Croatia on Thursday could see the world number two head home after the group stage.
In an interview with The Guardian before the 2–0 defeat to Morocco, Kevin De Bruyne said that his team was “too old” and had “no chance” of winning the World Cup.
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Martínez insisted after the game that it could have been a “double bluff” by the Manchester City star, but if he was being serious, it would be hard to disagree based on his performances in Qatar so far.
Spaniard Martinez has largely stuck to experienced players who have reached at least the quarterfinals in each of the last four major tournaments.
In the game against Morocco and a fortunate 1–0 victory over Canada, Belgium were outplayed, outplayed and presented no real threat to advance.
The absence of record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku through injury has been a blow, but his late introduction against Morocco was also born out of frustration and the Inter Milan player offered little.
The past six years have provided the best period of sustained success in Belgium’s history, with a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia the closest the current team has come to winning a major title.
Ten of the 14 players who lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners France four years ago are still in the squad.
Seven of the starting XI against Morocco are in their 30s – Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, De Bruyne and captain Eden Hazard.
The Red Devils’ attacking style has disappeared after cruising through qualification unbeaten.
The Belgian press has been extremely critical of the team, with website HLN saying that “there must be new blood”.
‘There’s nothing to lose’
Martinez believes getting one last chance at Salon will bring the best out of his aging team.
“In the last game we have to play it to win it and like we have nothing to lose,” he said.
“If we win against Croatia we are in the World Cup and that is a great motivation.”
On the eve of the defeat to Morocco, Hazard also stated that he felt Belgium had their best chance of becoming world champions and left.
There have been rumors of disharmony in the squad, with Vertonghen sarcastically hitting back at 31-year-old De Bruyne’s comments.
“There are a lot of things going on in my mind now, but they are things that haven’t been said on camera,” he told broadcaster TV Sproza.
“Perhaps we attack too badly because the guys (in front) are too old.”
Martínez admitted that his players were playing “without joy” and with “fear of losing”, but he has left a number of bright, young talents sitting on the bench.
Brighton’s Leandro Trossard, who has scored seven goals for Brighton in the Premier League this season, only appeared as a second-half substitute against Canada and Morocco.
Hazard started both games but is a shadow of the player he was before leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid in 2019.
Veterans Vertonghen and Alderweireld, who are now playing their club football back home with Anderlecht and Antwerp respectively, have been tipped as have the likes of Leicester centre-backs Wot Fes and Rennes’ Arthur Thiet.
The 33-year-old Witsel has struggled in both matches, but the small feet of Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are yet to unite in midfield.
Martinez has indicated he will not make wholesale changes and said he brought back Hazard on the hour mark on Sunday – for 35-year-old Dries Mertens – to keep him fresh for the challenges to come.
A defeat on Thursday, however, and it would be the end of an era for Belgian football.
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