After a long time we started reading the word Golden Generation of Belgium at the start of last decade. After the era Enzo Sciffo and Jan Cuelemans, a bunch of fresh young guns emerged with hope.
The era of Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne took off with a lot of expectations - as usual - still today, the Red Devils remain underachievers.
After the shocker at Frankfurt against Slovakia - the Golden Generation of Red Devils is falling apart.
So much talent. So much skill. Still, they don't function consistently.
Romelu Lukaku started in a breezy fashion without conviction. Belgium left spaces in the first half which allowed Slovakia to settle and cash in.
An unerring finish by Ivan Schranz after a defensive aberration was the decisive moment in the match and it came after just seven minutes.
Lukaku kept pushing hard.
He accrued more xG than the entire Slovakia team, and finished his second overruled goal with aplomb.
But he also failed to get shots off when afforded time and space, saw heavy touches run the ball out of play and was denied his first goal because he was offside six yards out from goal.
With time running out - Lukaku scored again. Sadly, a handball from Openda as he took the ball under control, a touch confirmed only by the snickometer technology more commonly used for detecting LBW in cricket.
Before this incident, Belgium lost opportunities through Lukaku, again Leandro Trossard and Johan Bakayoko.
Jeremy Doku was puzzling.
Tracking back to contain Slovakia’s first real attack, Doku came into possession of the ball in his own area. Surprisingly, he opted for a short pass to Wout Faes.
It was closed down by Schranz, ricocheted out to the feet of Robert Bozenik, whose shot was parried by Koen Casteels.
The ball ran right and Schranz drilled it low back across the goal and into the net.
Clumsy work and it decided the fate of the match.
The Red Devils were left pondering about their unexpectedly average performance against the underdogs at Frankfurt.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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