Belgium, Kevin De Bruyne pending

Losing to another blow from France, due to Jan Vertonghen’s own goal and after an irregular Euro Cup, Belgium seeming to languish among the best of his ‘Golden Generation’ survivors, Kevin de Bruynewho may have played in his last major international tournament with his national team against Didier Deschamps’ team.

One of the few who saved Belgium’s honor, at the age of 33, can say goodbye to calls for Domenico Tedesco, unable to gather the new generations of Belgian football with the most veterans gradually lowering the blinds. The Italian coach has good foundations before the start of the championship and De Bruyne is the greatest asset because of his quality, experience and leadership. The Manchester City player met his expectations, but the rest of his teammates did not. And now, he can leave the ‘Red Devils’ forever.

“I will not decide until this summer. It’s still too early to decide if I’m going to continue in the national team. Let me process this first. We’re going to think about everything and there will be a decision after the summer ,” the midfielder told ‘Sporza’. finish the match against France.

The future of Lukaku, Witsel, Carrasco, Vertonghen, Munier…

The certain departure of Kevin De Bruyne could mean goodbye to the ‘Golden Generation’. If, fully capable and performing at the highest level, he leaves, others may also step aside. In Germany, his comrades from old adventures helped the cause a little. Some may even be deducted, as in the case of Romelu Lukaku, struggled in goal, erratic in front of opposing goals and had a terrifying jinx on his shoulders. At 31 years old, he still has some time left, but his Euro Cup performance, summed up in zero goals, three VAR annulments and countless missed chances, could boost his -development.

Others like it Axel Witsel (35 years) or Thomas Meunier (32), they didn’t even play. They came to the Eurocup injured and never recovered. They are expected for the quarterfinals, but another one of the veterans, Jan Vertonghen, closed the path for both in an action filled with bad luck. He was France’s goal, an own goal, with Belgium saying goodbye to the European Championship. At 37 years old, the Anderlecht centre-back may have played his last game.

Yannick Carraso, at 30 years old, can also continue. He is not a veteran by any means, but his presence in the Tedesco eleven was intermittent during the Euro Cup. He started two of the four games and except for a few details, he was not noticed. Like another famous member of the ‘Golden Generation’, Thibaut Courtois, who was not even called up due to a serious knee injury from which he recovered at the end of the season. Not enough for Tedesco, who also doesn’t have a good relationship with the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

They are the six survivors of a generation that lost many of its members after the World Cup disaster in Qatar in 2022, where they failed to advance to the group stage. Toby Alderweireld, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Michy Batshuayi have said goodbye or simply not been called up. From the previous Euro Cup, Thomas Vermaelen and Christian Benteke were victims of another disappointment, replacing Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini and Mousa Dembélé, third in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, one of the great milestones of the ‘Golden Generation’.

The revival of the ‘Golden Generation’ team

The truth is that since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, a group of players that came out of nowhere has caused the rebirth of a defeated team without illusions. Belgium has not participated in any international competition since the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. and South Africa 2010. In total, five major tournaments away from the elite.

That disaster was orchestrated by some children who a decade ago had developed a great enthusiasm. Courtois, Vertonghen, Witsel, De Bruyne and Lukaku have already appeared in Brazil, all in their twenties and supporters of great football in their country who have brought fresh air to the football planet. Throughout the six major tournaments, they have succeeded and suffered failure, but no one can fail to recognize that their great contribution to Belgian football is unquestionable.

They reached their best records in the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2016 and 2020 European Championships. Their biggest success was the third place in Russia 2018, while in Qatar 2022 they showed signs of fatigue after the -stagnate in the group phase. They have already been confirmed in Germany, out in the round of 16 after playing in a group stage that no one remembers.

Doku, Theate, Vermeeren, Onana… The new generation is asking for a way

But Belgium has a promising new generation behind it: there is Jérémy Doku, Arthur Theate, Arthur Vermeeren, Dodi Lukébakio, Johan Bakayoko, Amadou Onana, Loïs Openda or Charles De Ketelaere, youngsters who have broken the door or are going for the good way to do it. Perhaps, they need a final effort from names like Kevin De Bruyne, who can make a last serve to prolong a transfer sweeter than its sad ending.

In fact, in the mixed zone after the defeat against France, De Bruyne left in a very bad mood. A journalist threw a nasty question at him: “Why didn’t Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ win?” The City midfielder responded as best he could: “Didn’t France, England, Spain or Germany have a golden generation?” Then he turned around, shook his head and called his interlocutor a “stupid.”

That could be the end of De Bruyne in Belgium, quite suddenly. It’s also possible that in your summer reflections you’re thinking that a decade-long relationship with your team deserved to end better. He can add a few more tournaments, hold out until the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico and look for one last dance to lead his country’s young promise to victories it has yet to achieve. Belgium, no doubt, are keeping an eye on Kevin De Bruyne, who in a few months will be tempted by the daisy to decide whether he will extend his international career.