Belgium’s Golden Generation Finds New Life Under Garcia

What old timers can do – When the World Cup tournament commenced a month ago, skepticism surrounded Belgium’s chances. The Red Devils had lost numerous key figures from their previous campaigns, leading many to question whether they could compete with the favorites. Yet, doubt deepened when they found themselves trailing 2-0 against Senegal with just five minutes remaining in the last-32 stage. Today, however, they stand in the quarter-finals after staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in tournament history, followed by a commanding 4-1 victory over the United States on American soil.

While Eden Hazard, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, and Vincent Kompany have departed the international scene, a core group featuring Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne, and Axel Witsel has transformed what appeared to be a mediocre campaign into a genuine title challenge. As they prepare to face Spain on Friday evening at 20:00 BST, the question arises: has Belgium’s celebrated golden generation been dismissed prematurely, or is manager Rudi Garcia discovering fresh ways to utilize their experience?

A New Chapter for Belgian Football

Belgium’s trajectory in recent World Cups tells an interesting story. They reached the quarter-finals in Brazil in 2014 and progressed to the semi-finals in Russia in 2018, when many considered their squad to be at its absolute zenith. However, the 2022 edition proved disappointing, with elimination in the group stage behind both Morocco and Croatia. This time around, the narrative appears different.

“I think this is a new era for us,” said Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois, competing in his fourth World Cup, following the triumph against the USA. “It is true that there are some players from the golden era, but the World Cup in Qatar for us was not that good. Now we have another generation with younger people, new people, willing to do great things and writing in the history pages for Belgium.”

Courtois’s assessment rings true. The younger players are carrying much of the weight for the national team. Kevin de Bruyne, for instance, netted his 38th international goal during Belgium’s 5-1 group stage demolition of New Zealand. Of the four survivors from both 2014 and 2018, the 34-year-old Courtois has been ever-present, playing every single minute of this tournament. Meanwhile, De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Witsel have seen their playing time reduced.

The Evolving Role of the Veterans

Central midfielder Witsel, now 37 years old and having departed relegated Girona at the conclusion of the La Liga season, was introduced for merely one minute during the USA victory. Lukaku, at 33, has delivered three impressive goals despite featuring for less than half the available minutes, frequently entering as a substitute to exploit fatigued defenses. His impact has been magnified by the energetic pressing of 25-year-old Atalanta forward Charles de Ketelaere.

De Bruyne, currently 35, suffered an injury during the Senegal encounter. Prior to his departure, Belgium had secured only one victory from three matches, but since then they have won twice while scoring seven goals in approximately 130 minutes of action. Full-back Thomas Meunier, who participated in 2018 but not 2014, has also seen his minutes diminish as the tournament progressed.

None of this diminishes the contributions of the senior players. Courtois continues to rank among the world’s finest goalkeepers, Lukaku’s goals have proven decisive, and De Bruyne’s displays before his injury were among the team’s finest. However, their function within the squad has shifted. Rather than shouldering responsibility for the team’s overall performance level, they are now relied upon to influence crucial moments.

Garcia’s Philosophy: Age Is Irrelevant

Romelu Lukaku stands as Belgium’s all-time leading World Cup scorer, having accumulated seven goals across four tournaments. This longevity underscores the manager’s approach. Garcia maintains that focusing on age is misguided and fails to recognize the caliber of players at his disposal.

“I really can’t stand it when my four leaders are called ‘veterans’,” he remarked earlier in the tournament. “It is ugly. It is awful. If you are lucky enough as a country to have players of this calibre, then encourage them. This is what Belgium’s ‘old-timers’ can do.”

The manager’s philosophy has been bolstered by strong performances from players who were not part of the 2014 and 2018 campaigns but bring substantial high-level experience. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard has been exceptional, creating 17 chances—more than any other player in the tournament—while ranking 15th for goal contributions with two goals and two assists to his name.

So far, Garcia and Belgium seem to be navigating the transition from their golden generation more effectively than many nations when their established stars begin to decline. Whether this approach will prove sufficient against Spain remains to be seen, but the Red Devils have certainly given themselves a chance to write another chapter in their footballing history.