Football World Cup: Belgium disappointed again: “Nothing left to lose”

Frustrated players in Doha, rampaging fans in Brussels: Belgium’s “old man team” is hardly recognizable at the World Cup in Qatar and is in danger of missing the knockout round for the first time since 1998.

Uninspired, harmless and not really a team player, the “Rode Duivels” suffered a historic shame against outsiders Morocco in Doha. The deserved 0: 2 (0: 0) was the first World Cup preliminary round defeat of the 2018 World Cup third in 28 years. In order to make it into the round of 16 on their own, Belgium (three points) must now win against runner-up Croatia (4) on Thursday. Morocco, on the other hand, with four points as well, beckons the first round of 16 at the World Cup in 36 years.

“It’s hard to accept. I’m not used to that behavior from my team. We’ve been much more self-confident in the last few years,” admitted Belgium national coach Roberto Martínez. The Spaniard remained polite in the defeat and carefully analyzed what had gone wrong. Star players like Kevin De Bruyne (31) and Axel Witsel (33), on the other hand, marched out of the Al-Thumama Stadium without comment.

Martinez: “We have to win against Croatia”

Significantly, it was the younger players who rated their own performance. “We still haven’t seen the real Belgium after two games,” said Leicester City’s Timothy Castagne, 26. The aging stars around De Bruyne, Eden Hazard (31) and world goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (30) had already disappointed in the happy 1-0 start against Canada.

With the win in the opening round, the Belgians still have it in their own hands to prevent the first preliminary round in 24 years. “We are now in a situation where we have nothing left to lose. We just have to win against Croatia. Then we’ll qualify for the round of 16,” said Martínez before the final group game on Thursday.

Doubts about a win against the vice world champion are appropriate after the performance so far. Apparently, some fans at home also see it that way. After the North Africans won only the third World Cup with goals from former German U21 international Abdelhamid Sabiri (73 minutes) and Zakaria Aboukhlal (90+2), riots broke out in Brussels. Around 100 police officers with water cannons had to take action against fans who rioted in the city center. People had to be asked to avoid the city center.

Belgium have only scored once in Qatar so far

The supporters, who have been spoiled by their team in the past with offensive power and enthusiasm for playing, have to get used to a completely different face of the aging stars this year. Belgium’s game in Qatar is characterized by individual actions, cumbersome attacks and serious individual mistakes, which Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier, for example, showed again and again on Sunday. “It has something to do with mentality,” Martínez argued. “It looked like we were afraid of losing. I don’t know that.” Especially offensively, a lot is missing at the moment.

In 2018, the Belgians had already scored eight goals after two games, this time only one. Less at the same time it was only almost a hundred years ago at the first World Cup finals in 1930 (0). The few players who didn’t leave the stadium in silence after the game reacted with defiance. “But we still have a team where many players can make the difference,” said Castagne. The problem: These players don’t show it.

De Bruyne, for example, is visibly annoyed by the shortcomings of some teammates and wants to bang his head against the wall too often. Captain Eden Hazard, who is only used sporadically at Real Madrid, seems to be more concerned with himself and for star striker Romelu Lukaku it was only enough for a short time after a long injury break against Morocco. Even if the 29-year-old Inter Milan goalscorer could play longer against Croatia, he won’t be in top form.