The Blues 2010 in South Africa VS the Red Devils 2022 in Qatar. Ok, the teaser is a bit overdone. But what the Belgians have been offering since the start of this World Cup could also be the subject of a series of twists and turns. Bad results, shock sentences, tensions in the locker room, mine clearance operation… There is everything for several episodes. The end of the script remains to be written, certainly not on a bus, but perhaps on Thursday. Or not.
Because despite everything that is happening within Roberto Martinez’s group, nothing is yet lost. A victory against Croatia the day after tomorrow (4 p.m.) and qualification for the round of 16 will be validated. “We just have to think about winning,” summarized Eden Hazard on Tuesday, sent to a press conference with Thibaut Courtois at the last moment. Either two executives in place of the less experienced Yannick Carrasco and Arthur Theate initially planned. In the meantime, Jan Vertonghen had even been announced… before giving up his place. In short, just another incident, not the craziest of recent days.
Where to start ? Perhaps by the World Cup front, which was not already breathing serenity with the Red Devils. The fault with the physical glitches of Romelu Lukaku, entered the other day vis-a-vis Morocco after weeks to look after his left thigh. Without their star striker, they had completed their preparation with a defeat against Egypt (1-2). A bad result that came after a sluggish Nations League (2 defeats in 6 games). Critics of a golden generation closer to retirement than to the world title had started in the flat country…
“I didn’t fight with Jan”
The words got louder in Qatar. Worse, they came from the players themselves! Kevin De Bruyne fired the first with a frankness that stands out in the middle. In an interview at Guardian, he felt that Belgium had “no chance” of winning the World Cup. “We are too old. I see us more as outsiders […] I think our luck was in 2018. We have a good team, but it is getting old. “Statements that came out after the sluggish opening victory against Canada (1-0), when Courtois had saved his people by stopping a penalty in particular.
These words came back to him in the head after the unexpected (but deserved) defeat against Morocco on Sunday (0-2). “I guess we attack badly because we are also too old in front”, then tackled, with both feet off, veteran Jan Vertonghen (35). The two would then have had a more muscular explanation in the locker room, also with Eden Hazard as the protagonist, according to theCrew, always well informed about the group life of the Red Devils. “I didn’t fight with Jan. I’m not stupid, he’s bigger than me, ”corrected the Madrid player with a smile on Tuesday.
A “good meeting” on Monday
According to him, a “good meeting” took place “yesterday (Monday) with all the players”. “The technical staff was present. We said things. Some good, some not so good. Some must not have pleased “, further detailed the former Lille, relayed by Thibaut Courtois a few minutes later. “Everyone was able to say what they thought. If you’re honest, it’s easier to fight for teammates on the pitch. Honesty is not what we lacked before but the defeat logically creates frustrations. »
“Tensions” even, in the words of coach Roberto Martinez on Monday. He thus recognized, half-word, a complicated group life. Poisoned for example by the non-existent relationship between Kevin De Bruyne and Courtois for years… “The parents get along very well. Monday the two families were at the beach together during the relaxing afternoon, “denied the father of the guardian. with the RTBF.
“If you have no tension or disagreement in a family, it’s because you have no emotions,” added the Spanish coach on Monday, who has since been trying to rekindle the sacred union. It was the watchword of the day at the press conference of the innkeepers. “We have to stay positive and not let the negativity win us over,” repeated Courtois. “Given what was said in the meeting, we will see 11 warriors on Thursday,” promised Hazard, before adding! “Talking is good, acting is better. ” We can not say it better.