Why Alderweireld says Belgium’s golden generation deserved more
Belgium’s late‑2010s squad, featuring Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, reached the World Cup semi‑finals in 2018 but still left without a major trophy, prompting Alderweireld to argue they deserved more credit.
Group‑stage dominance and knockout drama
In the group stage Belgium topped Group G ahead of England, Tunisia and Panama, securing three points from three matches. Their nine goals were the highest tally of any side in the group phase, with Hazard and Lukaku leading the scoring. In the round of 16 they fell two goals behind early in the second half against Japan but rallied to win 3‑2, the decisive strike coming from Nacer Chadli in the 94th minute.
Quarter‑final triumph and the lingering ‘why’
The quarter‑final saw Roberto Martinez’s Belgium defeat Brazil 2‑1 in Kazan, marking only the second World Cup quarter‑final appearance in the nation’s history, the first having been in 1986. Alderweireld recalled marking Neymar on the left while playing as a right centre‑back in a three‑man defence, adding that Neymar never troubled him and that the performance was one of the best of his career.
After the Brazil win, Belgium lost 1‑0 to eventual champions France in the semi‑final before securing bronze by beating England again in the third‑place play‑off. Alderweireld summed up the campaign, saying, “It was historic for Belgium. If you think about which teams played the best football at that World Cup, we were up there. I’m always going to have a feeling like ‘We deserved a little bit more’.”
The players’ collective achievements, despite the absence of a trophy, underline why the generation is still celebrated. Courtois kept clean sheets in the group, while Kompany and Vermaelen provided leadership at the back. Vertonghen’s experience complemented Alderweireld’s defensive solidity, and De Bruyne’s creativity linked midfield to attack.
Looking ahead, the squad’s legacy will be measured not just by medals but by the standard they set for future Belgian sides, a point that Alderweireld believes should not be overlooked.