The French and Belgian national teams have met four times in the last six years. The fifth head-to-head match in the Nations League is approaching. But the most important match between the French and Belgians was the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Then Didier Deschamps’ team achieved a hard-fought victory thanks to a goal from Samuel Umtiti. France was finally proclaimed champion and the “golden” Belgian generation took the bronze. Since then, Belgium has changed a lot: the stars are gradually moving away. Where are the main players of that squad now?
Thibaut Courtois, 32 years old, goalkeeper
World Cup 2018 now
In the 2018 World Cup, Courtois became the best goalkeeper. And in August he left for Real Madrid, with whom he has already won three Spanish championships and two Champions Leagues. Thibault missed almost the entire 2023/2024 season due to a cruciate ligament injury. But he returned at the end and had an excellent Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund. However, Courtois did not play in Euro 2024. The reason is a conflict with coach Domenico Tedesco. Thibault said that as long as the German leads the Belgian national team, he will not play for it. The goalkeeper and the coach fought in June 2023 over the captain’s armband, which Tedesco did not give to Courtois, but to Lukaku.
Conflict details:
Tedesco has problems in the Belgium national team. Courtois was offended by the coach and left the team!
Vincent Kompany, 38 years old, defender
World Cup 2018 now
Kompany retired in 2020 as player-coach of Anderlecht. Josep Guardiola’s school has borne fruit: Vincent is becoming a great coach. He first worked with Burnley (he led the club to the Premier League, but the following season he was relegated with them) and in the summer of 2024 he took charge of Bayern. Kompany must return the Bundesliga trophy to the Munich team and try to win the Champions League.
Vincent does not forget his gaming skills:
Stories
Kompany made a nice shot on goal during Bayern’s training session. Video
Toby Alderweireld, 35 years old, defense
World Cup 2018 now
Alderweireld attended the 2018 World Cup as a Tottenham player. And since 2022, Toby has been playing for Belgian club Antwerp. That same year he retired from the Belgian national team. In May 2023, a goal by Alderweireld gave the club its first gold in 66 years. The 35-year-old footballer still plays for Antwerp.
Last single day of the 2022/2023 season in Belgium:
During the round, the champion changed 4 times, 3 at the end. For this reason, Belgium reformed the league.
Jan Vertonghen, 37 years old, defense
World Cup 2018 now
Another defender of the Belgian national team, who spent the end of his career in his homeland. Since 2022, Vertonghen has been playing for Anderlecht. He previously played for Tottenham and Benfica, but did not win any trophies with them. Euro 2024 was Yan’s last tournament with the national team. But in July, Vertonghen extended his contract with Anderlecht for one season.
Thomas Meunier, 33 years old, defense
World Cup 2018 now
Meunier became Belgium’s main right back at the 2018 World Cup. But Thomas missed the semi-final against France due to too many yellow cards. But Meunier distinguished himself in the third-place match against England. In 2018, the Belgian played for PSG, but two years later he moved to Borussia Dortmund. And in 2024, he was first loaned to Trabzonspor and then to Lille permanently.
Kevin De Bruyne, 33 years old, midfielder
World Cup 2018 now
At the World Championships in Russia, Kevin was one of Belgium’s three leaders. And after 2018, De Bruyne stood his ground and led the national team. However, no significant victories were ever achieved. But the midfielder won everything he could with Manchester City. But the 33-year-old has suffered frequent injuries lately. For one of them he misses the Belgian team’s October matches. And after the last match against France, Kevin was not satisfied with the team’s football performance. Because of this, fears arose in Belgium that De Bruyne would soon end his career in the national team. However, there have been no announcements so far.
De Bruyne – against the current football calendar:
“FIFA and UEFA don’t care, they only care about money!” Players are ready to sue over the schedule.
Axel Witsel, 35 years old, midfielder
World Cup 2018 now
Witsel was in charge of the Belgian team’s support zone for many years. Although now he has been reused as a center back at Atlético. After the 2018 World Cup, Axel moved from China to Borussia Dortmund and in 2022 he ended up in Madrid. In 2023, Witsel announced his retirement from the Belgian national team, but returned to it for the European Championship. There he assumed the role of locker room leader and substitute.
Witsel’s signing is one of the best in Zenit history:
Classification
Zenit’s 7 most expensive purchases. Which transfer was the best and which was the worst?
Marouane Fellaini, 36 years old, midfielder
World Cup 2018 now
The most famous Belgian “microphone” in the world. Fellaini was remembered for his hairstyle and was a good soccer player. At the 2018 World Cup, Marouane appeared in five matches and started against France. The midfielder did not perform effective actions, but he was useful in other aspects. Until 2019, Fellaini played for Manchester United, after which he left for Chinese side Shandong Taishan. He retired there in 2023.
Nasser Chadli, 35 years old, midfielder
World Cup 2018 now
Chadli started the 2018 World Cup as a substitute but later earned a starting spot. Nasser started every playoff game. And in the round of 16, it was his goal in the 90+4 minute that gave Belgium an epic victory over Japan (3-2). Chadli left the national team in 2021. And his last club was the Belgian Westerlo, whose contract expired in the summer of 2024. Chadli is now a free agent. On social networks, at the end of summer, the footballer shared photographs of his vacation in his historic homeland: Morocco.
Moussa Dembélé, 37 years old, midfielder
World Cup 2018 now
The defensive midfielder only started two games at the 2018 World Cup: in round 3 with England and in the semifinals. Dembélé spent 60 minutes on the field with France, showing a good level. And after the World Cup, Moussa decided to end his career in the national team. A year later, he left Tottenham for Chinese side Guangzhou Fuli. He finished playing football there in 2021. In May 2024, Dembélé visited London and a Tottenham match, where he was welcomed by the fans.
Dries Mertens, 37 years old, forward
World Cup 2018 now
The best scorer in Napoli history played six games in the 2018 World Cup and scored only one goal. Dries mainly came off the bench in the playoffs, but contributed to the bronze medal. Until 2022, Mertens played for the Belgian national team and Napoli. But then he left the national team (after the 2022 World Cup) and in the summer of the same year he moved to Galatasaray. Dris still plays for the Istanbul giants.
Eden Hazard, 33 years old, forward
World Cup 2018 now
At the 2018 World Cup, Hazard was in perfect shape. He was a nightmare for any rival, scoring three goals and giving an assist, becoming an important factor in the Belgian bronze medal. Everything was ruined with the transfer to Real Madrid in 2019. Hazard was ruined by constant injuries, a love of fast food and a bad relationship with coaches. Eden won two Spanish championships and the Champions League with Real Madrid, but the Belgian’s contribution to the trophies was minimal. Tired of fighting problems, Hazard retired in the summer of 2023. Now Eden enjoys his holidays and regularly appears at various football events.
Now fast food follows Azar everywhere:
Stories
Hazard received an unusual welcome in Lille. The club made hamburgers with his name!
Romelu Lukaku, 31 years old, forward
World Cup 2018 now
At the 2018 World Cup, Lukaku scored a double in the first two rounds with Panama (3-0) and Tunisia (5-2). And then… silence. The tournament was a reflection of Romelu’s career: he has been on a constant roller coaster. Successful seasons give way to disastrous ones. Since 2018, the Belgian has played for Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter and Roma. Now the 31-year-old striker has moved to Napoli under his beloved coach Antonio Conte. Lukaku refused to play for the Belgian national team until the end of 2024 to get fit.
Roberto Martínez, 51 years old, head coach
World Cup 2018 now
It was Martínez who was the coach of the Belgian national team at the peak of the “golden” generation. The bronze at the 2018 World Cup was the greatest achievement. In the following tournament, the Belgians did not even leave the group and at Euro 2020 they were eliminated in the quarterfinals. In 2022, the Spaniard left Belgium and in 2023 he managed the Portuguese national team. Martínez gets along well with Cristiano Ronaldo, but that did not help the team win Euro 2024. Portugal was eliminated in the quarterfinals by France, but Roberto remained in his position.
Belgium was lucky in the last match:
Italy destroyed Tedesco’s Belgium. But star Spalletti’s stupidity changed everything.
