At Euro 2024 the talented Belgium team almost escapes the 'Golden Generation' tag. But not quite yet
Belgium's Romelu Lukaku, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the international friendly soccer match between Belgium and Luxembourg at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Saturday, June 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — So close, so nearly made it.
After more than 25 minutes of questions to Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne and coach Domenico Tedesco on Sunday, the dreaded words “Golden Generation” had not yet been heard.
And then it happened — with the very last question, to Tedesco, on the eve of his team's opening European Championship game against Slovakia.
“It’s a typical German question about the Golden Generation,” quipped Tedesco, who is Italian-born though a German citizen. “I was expecting that one.”
One day, Belgium coaches and players will not be pulled back to the gilded crop of prospects who seemed sure to one day win an international title, and possibly should have at Euro 2016.
Belgium's Leonardo Trossard, left, challenges for the ball with Luxembourg's Laurent Jans during the international friendly soccer match between Belgium and Luxembourg at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Saturday, June 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
It's been a label, and a millstone, for Belgium since the 2008 Beijing Olympics where an emerging squad included Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini and Jan Vertonghen.
Kevin De Bruyne, center, of Belgium's Red Devils prepares to board a plane prior to the teams departure for the Euro 2024 in Germany, at Zaventem Airport in Brussels, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
De Bruyne and Eden Hazard were maturing in the team that reached the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals. The Red Devils were stunned at the same stage of Euro 2016 by Wales despite extra established stars Thibaut Courtois in goal and Romelu Lukaku in attack.
Marc Wilmots left as coach and was replaced by Roberto Martinez, who is now at Euro 2024 with Portugal.
There were eliminations as the world’s top-ranked team by eventual champions: in the 2018 World Cup semifinals against France, and a Euro 2020 quarterfinal match to Italy.
Then another stunner, failing to advance from the 2022 World Cup group stage in Qatar, albeit because eventual semifinalists Croatia and Morocco did.
“Qatar is over now. It was a disappointment, yes, but it was 18 months ago,” De Bruyne said Sunday ahead of the playmaker's third attempt to win a European title. “It is a new tournament, a new coach. The team has changed quite a lot.”
Belgium's Leonardo Trossard, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the international friendly soccer match between Belgium and Luxembourg at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Saturday, June 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Since the World Cup, veterans like Hazard, Dries Mertens and Toby Alderweireld have retired from the national team. Courtois fell out with Tedesco and is not in Germany.
De Bruyne is still here with Vertonghen (37), Lukaku (31) and Axel Witsel (35). Another Manchester City star, winger Jérémy Doku, is already at his third major tournament at 22 and much is expected from 21-year-old Johan Bakayoko on the right flank.
Belgium is still ranked No. 3 by FIFA.
“I wouldn’t say our squad is third in the world right now but in a tournament it doesn’t even matter,” said De Bruyne, whose 33rd birthday falls between the round of 16 and the quarterfinals.
“There are a lot of young players in the team and they’re really motivated,” De Bruyne said, whose team is strongly favored in Group E that also includes Ukraine and Romania.
The 38-year-old Tedesco, leading Belgium at a tournament for the first time, acknowledged there was a squad overhaul.
“There is huge quality among the young prospects,” said Tedesco, “who are already ready for this stage.”
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press