NOW OR NEVER FOR BELGIAN SOCCER’S ‘GOLDEN GENERATION’
Beating longtime adversary Brazil cleared major hurdle in World Cup quarter-finals
Felipe Scolari recalls the “final” before the actual final when he reflects back on Brazil’s last World Cup title.
Felipao, as he’s affectionally known, guided a 2002 Brazilian squad loaded with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka to wins over England and Germany that year in Japan.
But the 69-year-old former manager’s recollection doesn’t necessarily begin with Ronaldo’s double in the World Cup final against the Germans or the Selecao coming back to beat Michael Owen-led England.
No, Felipao’s memory takes him back to a Round of 16 clash with a Belgian side he still refers to as the best opponent Brazil faced in that tournament, a match befitting of a title game.
Sixteen years later, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez is well aware things have come full circle following the Red Devils’ run to the semifinals here in Russia.
“I met Felipao before the World Cup and we had a very good conversation,” Martinez said with a smile that hinted he appreciated the coincidence.
“I asked him about that game. He said it was the hardest game because Brazil had the expectation of beating Belgium.”
Those were the expectations this time, too, which is why Martinez feels Belgium is playing with house money ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with France in St. Petersburg.
“This generation (of Brazilian players) is as talented as that one,” Martinez said in the aftermath of Belgium’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over the World Cup favourites. “That’s why, for us, it was the game of the World Cup no matter what happens.”
Martinez is savvy in the way he goes about playing down expectations, especially when you consider Belgium has long been one of the best sides in the world.
He knows there’s more pressure on his counterpart Didier Deschamps to reach a second consecutive final after somehow squandering the previous European Championship.
Belgium’s shape-shifting also leaves Deschamps guessing as to how Belgium will set up in another match it won’t be favoured to win.
The Spanish boss has used his entire bench at this World Cup while setting his team up in both three- and four-back systems.
“When you have the commitment of the players and the quality we have, you can be flexible,” Martinez said. “To be flexible means you have to take risks … That’s what this group is: a group that’s prepared to become a team that wants to achieve.
“That allows you to be flexible tactically, dynamic, good on the ball — because we have the quality — and good without the ball. That’s important if you want to beat the extremes of this competition.”
Martinez would be wise to approach this semifinal with the same “tactical flexibility” that saw Belgium withstand the best attacking squad in this competition.
If they get beyond Les Bleus, Belgium will be able to take more risks against Croatia or England, two sides they would be favoured to beat Sunday in Moscow.
“We’ve been facing different games,” Martinez said. “We’ve been favourites. (Against Brazil), we were the underdogs. We’ve been able to win in both roles.”
This group of Belgian players — a “golden generation” of competitors, Martinez said — is fiercely proud to represent its country. Some of them will return four years from now. Many of them won’t.
It’s without a doubt the best opportunity for Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard to win a major international trophy.
Belgium isn’t likely to produce another collection of players in the same way Italy and Spain have had their moments in the sun.
The difference, though, is the Azzurri and La Furia Roja can look back on 2006 and 2010 and know they got the most out of a generation of players.
This group of Belgian players has already denied another golden generation of Brazilians a chance to bring glory back to its country for the first time since Felipao first walked Brazil’s touchline.
“To beat Brazil in a World Cup, you have to believe it,” Martinez said. “We believed we could beat Brazil, the team of the World Cup.”
Now there’s belief this Belgian squad can go on and do what Brazil did four World Cups ago.
We’ve been favourites. (Against Brazil), we were the underdogs. We’ve been able to win in both roles.