It wasn’t to be. Belgium played a good match against Croatia, but luck was not on their side in that match. The Red Devils are out of the World Cup. Part of the Golden Generation will drop out, but if we look at the European Championship 2024, we can still harbor a lot of hope. There is no reason to panic, provided that a few top players want to take the team by the hand.
Belgium should not fear a problem in goal. Thibaut Courtois has already indicated that he wants to continue. The future of Simon Mignolet is unclear. After all, he is already 34 years old. At 30 years old, Koen Casteels is still young enough to keep doing it. With Maarten Vandevoordt (20), who is doing well at KRC Genk, there is an opportunity to move a young top talent through and to let Courtois and Casteels learn. Matz Sels (30) is also still present.
DEFENSE BIGGEST CONCERN CHILD
At the back, Toby Alderweireld (33) doubts his future, Jan Vertonghen (35) wants to continue. But a European Championship at the age of 37 is going to be very difficult. Refreshment is needed at the back. Wout Faes (24), Arthur Theate (22) and Zeno Debast (19) were already present at this World Championship. Can Jason Denayer (27) also return to a good European club? How is Koni De Winter (20) evolving? Can he collect minutes at Juventus or another team? How will Sebastiaan Bornauw (23), Zinho Vanheusden (23), Hannes Delcroix (23), Ameen Al-Dakhil (20) and other very young talents develop?
Boys should also gradually step up on the flanks. For example, a real left flank defender is missing. Timothy Castagne (26) does a decent job there, but he feels much better on the right. Maxim De Cuyper (20) is making good progress at KVC Westerlo. Can he break through at Club Brugge next year? On the right, Thomas Meunier (31) has not yet finished football in terms of age, although he had a poor World Cup. There is Castagne, but also Alexis Saelemaekers (23), Thomas Foket (28), Ken Nkuba (20), Matisse Samoise (21), Alessio Castro-Montes (25 and possibly an option for the left). Hugo Siquet (20) is experiencing a dip, but who knows, he may continue to grow in the long term.
A LOT OF OPULENCE IN MIDDLE FIELD
There is a lot of opulence in the center of midfield. Axel Witsel (33) has already indicated that he wants to continue to the European Championships, but with Leander Dendoncker (27), Roméo Lavia (18), Amadou Onana (21), Youri Tielemans (25), Sambi Lokonga (23), Orel Mangala (24), Aster Vranckx (20), Nicolas Raskin (21) and Eliot Matazo (20) he will have to fight for his position. In addition, we should not forget players such as Dennis Praet (28), Bryan Heynen (25) and Mike Trésor (23). It is also questionable whether Kevin De Bruyne (31) will continue. To guide the young people that would be a phenomenal added value. Hans Vanaken (30) is also present.
In attack there are also many young talents knocking on the door. Or how about Charles De Ketelaere (21), Yari Verschaeren (21), Luca Oyen (19), Largie Ramazani (21), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (21), Johan Bakayoko (19), Julien Duranville (17), Yorbe Vertessen (21), Jérémy Doku (20) and Mario Stroeykens (18)? All players who can function around a center striker.
ALL HOPE ON LUKAKU
As experienced forces, we have the necessary guys with Yannick Carrasco (29), Leandro Trossard (27), Thorgan Hazard (29) and who knows, even Eden Hazard (31) who might be there in 2024. We should certainly not write off Dodi Lukebakio (25), Adnan Januzaj (27) and Manuel Benson (25). For Dries Mertens (35) it seems to be over and out. In rush hour everyone hopes that Romelu Lukaku (29) will continue as Red Devil. Michy Batshuayi (29), Divock Origi (27), Loïs Openda (22), Hugo Cuypers (25) and Dante Vanzeir (24) are not of that level. We can also look forward to seeing how 18-year-old Lucas Stassin will continue to develop in the coming years.
Conclusion: Belgium still has a team to say ‘you’ in 2024, if a few clappers like De Bruyne and Lukaku don’t stop. How about a team (4-3-3) with Courtois, Castagne, Theate, Faes, Saelemaekers , Onana, Lavia, Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard, Lukaku? Who knows, there may also be a number of top talents who are currently not yet known to the general public. There is certainly no shortage of talent for the Red Devils.
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