The time has come for remobilization and reconstruction because new challenges and new deadlines are fast approaching. In barely a year and a half, there will be the Euro in Germany. In short, the Belgian Union now has to deal with a few projects. The first concerns the coach following the announcement of the departure of Roberto Martinez.
1. Who to succeed Roberto Martinez?
After a little over six years at the head of the Red Devils, the Spanish coach bows out. Even if not everyone was convinced by his skills, he will still have achieved the greatest achievement in Belgian football by obtaining a historic bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Belgian Union must find him a successor as coach but also as technical director. Roberto Martinez was, in fact, wearing both hats and obviously, the pundits of the Federation had not really anticipated the resignation of his national coach even if the latter affirmed, in a press conference, that even if he had won the world title, he would have given up his place. We should know more about the intentions of the Belgian Union on Monday. The CEO of the RBFA will give a press conference knowing that it will not be necessary to procrastinate. In March, Belgium will begin its qualification phase for Euro 2024 on Friday March 24 in Sweden. In their group, the Devils also inherited Austria, Estonia and Azerbaijan.
Among the potential successors, there are many who would like a “black-yellow-red” coach and more precisely… Michel Preud’homme. The latter is free but could the project interest him and push him to return to business? Not impossible.
The other name most often mentioned and cited is that of Philippe Clément, the current coach of Monaco. We met him at the end of last season and when asked if the Belgian national team could interest him, his answer was categorical: “In a few years it could be a possibility but not at the moment. I still have this energy, this motivation and this ambition to work daily with my players and my staff. With the national team, it’s a different rhythm. And then, I still have a lot of challenges to meet abroad before thinking of the Belgian national team. »
Candidates should not be missing, however. The challenge is daunting but interesting because the new coach will not start from a blank sheet.
2. An unchanged backbone?
For the future of the Belgian national team, it is crucial to retain a backbone consisting of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. The World Cup in Qatar showed how much Belgium still needs a striker of the level of Big Rom, even if he was sorely ineffective against Croatia. But, before his rise to the game, how many chances had Belgium created? Little, far too little. Despite his lack of competition, the Inter striker weighed on the Croatian defense and it took a few millimeters to become once again the hero of the nation. Clumsiness and bad luck, no matter, decided otherwise.
3. Talent among young people…
Yes, Belgium disappointed. Yes, everyone expected more from this national team despite the injuries, the lack of competition from some…but no, you shouldn’t throw everything away and see everything in black. Talent, there is and the future is not so dark.
The Hopes have qualified for Euro U21 to be held in June and July 2023 in Georgia with the firm intention of shining there. Six players selected for the World Cup in Qatar could also participate: Amadou Onana (Everton), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jérémy Doku (Rennes), Lois Openda (Lens) and Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan). ). Players like Aster Vranckx (AC Milan), Eliot Matazo (AS Monaco) or even Koni De Winter (on loan from Juventus to Empoli) are showing more and more the tip of their noses and are great hopes for Belgian football.
In 2007, thanks to their results at the Euro U21, the Vertonghens, Mirallas, Dembélé, Fellaini, Vermaelen… succeeded in qualifying Belgium for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. This is where part of the future golden generation was built. History could now repeat itself since the Euro U21 in 2023 will offer the opportunity for the current young generation to win a ticket for the Paris Games in 2024.
Even if currently, we do not yet see appearing on the horizon players of the caliber of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku or Eden Hazard, there is nevertheless a breeding ground which should allow Belgium to continue to distinguish themselves in major tournaments. We should not necessarily relive a period as gloomy as the one experienced after the 2002 World Cup… provided of course that we start again on a sound basis and with clear and ambitious objectives.