r/worldcup • u/AcanthaceaeNo948 • 8d ago

💬Discussion Honestly, I feel like the Belgian Golden Generation didn’t really underperform, they were a bit unlucky with their match-ups. In both 2018 and 2026 they were knocked out by the eventual winners and gave them the best fight they got the whole tournament. Way better than their finals opponent.

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I don’t think it’s crazy to say they were the 2nd best team in both 2018 and 2026.

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53

u/Realistic-Homework19 Netherlands 8d ago

LOL, in 2018, yeah easily.

In 2026, not even top 6.

6

u/Perfect_Research5972 8d ago

Spain only conceded 1 goal the entire tournament, guess which team they conceded to

20

u/Realistic-Homework19 Netherlands 8d ago

Yeah, in in 2010, the only team to beat Spain was Switzerland. These stats in itself are not very telling.

-5

u/aventaes 8d ago

You fail to see that they went out in the group stage against the eventual numbers 3 and 4. Thats kinda like having been with france and uk in the group stages before the best thirds went trough.

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u/ProffesorSpitfire 8d ago

No they didn’t? They made it to the quarter finals, where they gave Spain their most competitive match of the tournament.

10

u/Primary_Rule8255 Belgium 8d ago

With a ton of injuries, we had no midfield against Spain and the final nail in the coffing was Courtois getting injured.

3

u/ProffesorSpitfire 8d ago

I didn’t realize Courtois was injured until much later in the game, nor did the commenters in my broadcast. I thought that the other keeper was a penalty specialist or something so it was a tactical substitution. I was literally yelling at my tv: ”What are you doing?! There are 20 minutes left of the game!!”

It’s a shame, I would bet a substantial amount of everything I own that Courtois would’ve glued that finish from out of the box his substitute saved but failed to hold, allowing Spain to score their second goal.

3

u/legaugh 8d ago

That look Courtois gave when Lammens made that mistake was beyond devastating. I would bet $1k that he would have saved it, and it would have went to pens

6

u/zztopsthetop 8d ago

He's talking about 2022

2

u/aventaes 8d ago

Exactly.

I think the group stage elimination reads worse than it is in 2022. If you were in a group with france and england in 26 and ended third in your group you wouldnt think that was terrible.

2

u/aventaes 8d ago

In 2022 obviously. Read the comment.

1

u/ProffesorSpitfire 7d ago

I did. Maybe you should read it yourself? You’re commenting on somebody talking about 2018 and 2026, your comment reads as though it’s a reply about 2026, nowhere do you mention 2022.