Following a 0-0 draw with Croatia, Belgium, who finished as semifinalists in Russia four years ago, was humiliatedly eliminated from the FIFA World Cup at the group stage, marking the end of the nation’s ‘Golden Generation’.
The Red Devils knew going into the game that a victory would guarantee their spot in the round of 16, but even as they pushed forward in the closing minutes in search of the one goal that would extend their World Cup campaign, their star-studded galaxy was unable to deliver in what would become a watershed moment for Belgian football.
Romelu Lukaku, a hefty striker who is currently back on loan at Inter Milan, was the game’s main villain. As the clock wound down to 90 minutes, he missed a number of golden openings, more than one of which came from only a few yards out with the goal looking at his mercy.
With the other Group F match between Morocco and Canada appearing to have tipped the scales in their favour to the point that one point would likely be enough to advance, Croatia, for their part, were generally content to sit back in an effort to contain the rampaging Belgians.
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But it doesn’t mean that Zagreb fans watching at home didn’t find it to be heart-wrenching.
The tournament will be poorer without players like Kevin De Bruyne competing in the knockout stages, but after their shocking 2-0 loss to Morocco, it seems self-inflicted rather than the result of a cruel twist of fate. Despite having numerous chances to break the tie, Belgium was unable to do so and failed to live up to their lofty position as the second-best team in the world according to the FIFA rankings.
And even though Lukaku had multiple chances to shine, he passed them up instead. After the game, he hurried off the field in tears and even punched the plastic that lines the pitchside dugout. Nothing was taken.
Morocco defeated Canada 2-1 in another matchup in the same group, so confirming their status as unexpected group winners.
After only four minutes, Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech scored after Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan made a mistake.
Youssef En-Nesyri extended the advantage for the North Africans after 23 minutes, but the Canadians had hope when Nayef Aguerd scored an own goal after Alphonso Davies had done well down the left wing.
However, it was not to be as Morocco went on to have one of their most illustrious days in football.
It will be a day that Belgium, and Lukaku in particular, would be best served to forget.
