soul24rage
Senior Member
Yeah, 2018 and 2021, I don't blame them at all.
It's Euros 2016 and WC 2022 (and maybe the Nations League as well if you want to count them) that made it underwhelming.
It's Euros 2016 and WC 2022 (and maybe the Nations League as well if you want to count them) that made it underwhelming.
Maradona37
Well-known member
They had some good tournaments and some poor ones. Personally I thought a few of their players were a little overhyped anyway (not De Bruyne or Hazard) so I don't really count it against them that much. Of course, by far their biggest issue was having a clown like Martinez for a coach.
The biggest embarrassment was probably the loss against wales at Euro 2016 - they could have won that tournament potentially. Their best tournament was in Russia, where I felt they were one of the best teams. The loss against France was a close, tight game of very fine margins, with the French finding the goal that Belgium could not. That was their chance and I haven't considered them a really top team since then.
Overall - taking into account me thinking the media overegged the pudding with the quality of a few of their players - they have done ok. But they could have won something with a little more luck.
The biggest embarrassment was probably the loss against wales at Euro 2016 - they could have won that tournament potentially. Their best tournament was in Russia, where I felt they were one of the best teams. The loss against France was a close, tight game of very fine margins, with the French finding the goal that Belgium could not. That was their chance and I haven't considered them a really top team since then.
Overall - taking into account me thinking the media overegged the pudding with the quality of a few of their players - they have done ok. But they could have won something with a little more luck.
khaled_a_d
Senior Member
2016 was the golden generation only real failure, 2014 they were too young and in 2022 it wasn't their generation anymore, they should have been just the old survival of old guard who support new guns. Sort like Argentina, it wasn't the Aguero, Higuin, Mascherano gen anymore but the De Paul and Enzo, with experienced old guard in Messi & ADM. Belgium didn't have a replacement and was just mediocre squad in 2022 not a "golden one".
khaled_a_d
Senior Member
Martinez is a good NT coach.
People always fell in the mistake of judging international football the same way they do with club football, and then they have essentially rule everyone as mediocre.
Martinez arrived after 2016 failure, made thema cohesive unit and done well tbh, before the usual wear for prolinged stay, his first two tournaments he didn't lose against sides he should gave beaten, in fact it was the opposite. In fact, he is one of very few coaches with NT who tries to attack, which while it isn't snart thing to do, it is commandable.
International football is mostly about killing the game and snatching a goal from opponents mistakes, and fans hate that and deem every coach a bad one.
Maradona37
Well-known member
Fair enough. You make some decent arguments, but I have just never rated him at either club or international level. Could be a personal dislike clouding my judgement though as he just seems such a yes man.
Fati_Future_BallonDor
Well-known member
Temptation
Well-known member
Yup. He's got amazing hair.
Maradona37
Well-known member
Try to ignore what a useless donkey Haaland is and just watch some of this passing:
feggydinho
Senior Member
The truth is most of the quality strikers miss chances a lot (the Mbappes, Haalands, Suarez, Aguero, Ronaldo etc), and it's not just this era, even the era of De Lima Ronaldo and the likes.
We mainly focus on the good parts, and I think a key quality of being able to perform is being able to get over the fact that you missed a chance and try to do it again.
Maradona37
Well-known member
True, was just having a small playful dig at Haaland.
Maradona37
Well-known member
He does miss a lot though, to be fair.
Anyway, marvel at Kevin's passing. And we know he consistently does this, and it isn't a deceptive Twitter/YouTube video.
Anyway, marvel at Kevin's passing. And we know he consistently does this, and it isn't a deceptive Twitter/YouTube video.
Fati_Future_BallonDor
Well-known member
Kdb is top5 Pl player off all time, insane passes from this kid.
Temptation
Well-known member
In terms of talent and ability KDB sits at the Xavi-Iniesta-Modric table.
Sure they have won more(because they played for Prime Real and Barca lmao) but can anyone honestly claim that KDB is inferior in terms of talent, ability and quality?
If anything he's an even bigger match winner, more complete and has more X Factor. Every game he does multiple things which makes you go "wow". His distance shooting(with both feet), set pieces and physicality is great too.
Now some dumbass will come here and say "why are you comparing players who play a different role". Save it because my post is about giving KDB the respect he deserves. He's at that table easily. Don't care about team trophies.
Maradona37
Well-known member
It depends how you define talent.
In tight spaces, and at running a game, and manipulating their way out of situations, they piss in him.
But at end product, long incisive passing (though Modric and Xavi are good at this too) and driving at defences, he is better than them.
He has a great football brain, but in a different way to them. His football brain revolves around hurting the opposition mainly, whereas theirs is about suffocating them and giving the team the platform to utterly dominate the game.
That's not to say they're poor at the stuff he's great at, or vice-versa. It's just where their respective biggest strengths lie, at least for me.
In tight spaces, and at running a game, and manipulating their way out of situations, they piss in him.
But at end product, long incisive passing (though Modric and Xavi are good at this too) and driving at defences, he is better than them.
He has a great football brain, but in a different way to them. His football brain revolves around hurting the opposition mainly, whereas theirs is about suffocating them and giving the team the platform to utterly dominate the game.
That's not to say they're poor at the stuff he's great at, or vice-versa. It's just where their respective biggest strengths lie, at least for me.
Home of Barca Fans
