World Cup 2018: Is Belgium's golden generation finally about to deliver?
Media playback is not supported on this device
Belgium's Chadli scores dramatic stoppage-time winner 2018 Fifa World Cup last 16
Venue: Russia Dates: 30 June - 3 July
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, Red Button and iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app; listen on Radio 5 live; follow text updates online
This is supposed to be Belgium's golden generation, and perhaps for the first time we are beginning to see why.
Trailing 2-0 to Japan and heading out of the World Cup, the Red Devils mounted an extraordinary comeback, scoring three times in the final 21 minutes to set up a quarter-final against Brazil.
In March 2016, Belgium topped Fifa's world rankings. Four months later they were knocked out of Euro 2016 by Wales in the quarter-finals. Yet another tournament at which the Red Devils flattered to deceive.
Two years earlier they had also gone out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage, beaten by eventual runners-up Argentina.
But could this squad - featuring several Premier League winners - finally be about to deliver?
The 13 players who played on Monday - and became the first side since 1970 to come from 2-0 down to win a World Cup knockout match - included 32-year-old Vincent Kompany and 31-year-olds Dries Mertens and Jan Vertonghen.
Kompany, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard have won the Premier League eight times between them.
Will Roberto Martinez's big-name players go all the way in Russia?
-
Belgium into quarter-finals after incredible comeback
Mertens wants goals to get friends free TVs
'Belgium have belief - and that's powerful'
Belgium are two wins away from a first appearance in a World Cup final - but that looked a distant dream when Takashi Inui's 25-yard strike made it 2-0 to Japan after Genki Haraguchi had give the Asian side the lead.
Vertonghen started the comeback, Marouane Fellaini equalised, and fellow substitute Nacer Chadli hit a 94th-minute winner.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said Belgium will now take momentum into their last-eight tie with five-time world champions Brazil.
"I think the mentality of this team has been called into question," said Ferdinand.
"That now gives them the belief and it's a powerful thing to have."
Ex-England captain Alan Shearer praised Martinez - who managed both Wigan and Everton - for turning it around.
"Serious questions were being asked of Martinez and his players in that second half," he said. "You have to do something and find a way and boy did he do it."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Highlights: Belgium 3-2 Japan'This is for everyone in Belgium'
Belgium have not kept a clean sheet in their 12 World Cup knockout-round matches, shipping 28 goals.
But Martinez would only concentrate on the positives after their remarkable win on Monday.
"No negative things, believe me," he said. "It was about getting through, and we did that. Today is a day to be very proud of this group of players.
"This is for everyone in Belgium. Thank you for your support and keep believing.
"Sometimes in the World Cup you want to be perfect, but in knockout football it's about winning and they showed a winning mentality."
Media playback is not supported on this device
Fellaini header levels score for Belgium'Is this the sign of a champion?'
Belgium's astonishing comeback was another glorious moment in a compelling tournament.
Holders Germany failed to get past the group stage, while heavyweights Spain, Argentina and Portugal have also gone home.
"This is the most staggering World Cup ever," said former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton.
"Credit to Belgium - at 2-0 down they were out of this competition. Is this the sign of a champion, a comeback like that?"
Why Brazil v Belgium will be a classic
Friday's quarter-final in Kazan should be another World Cup classic.
Brazil and Belgium are ranked two and three in the Fifa rankings - behind only Germany.
Pre-tournament favourites Brazil were held by Switzerland and struggled to overcome Costa Rica in the group stage, but impressed in the second half of their last-16 win against Mexico.
Martinez said: "When you play against Brazil, you have to understand you are playing against the best team in the competition.
"We will have a real clarity of how to play against players like Neymar and Philippe Coutinho, that can change the game in a second.
"As a boy, you dream of playing in the World Cup against Brazil so we have to enjoy it."
In the other quarter-final in the top half of the draw, Uruguay face France at 15:00 BST on Friday.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Highlights: Brazil 2-0 MexicoSocial media reaction
Martinez certainly had the last laugh, as his decision to bring on Chadli and Fellaini when chasing two (or three) goals was widely mocked on Twitter.
The much-maligned Fellaini scored five goals last season for Manchester United while Chadli only played six times in an injury-hit season as West Brom were relegated.
Here are a selection of tweets on the topic:
Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
Comments
This article has 0 comment(s) , give your comment