Look at it up there on the hill, shining in the sunlight, an almost imperceptible aura of melancholia surrounding it like a halo. Look at the ornate carvings, the faces etched across its flanks. There’s Davor Suker! Preben Elkjær! Ferenc Puskas! Is that … it is! It’s Danny Mills, his face almost entirely worn away by the years of tourists rubbing it for luck. Yes, it’s the End Of The Golden Generation Klaxon and it’s sounding its low mournful drone across the California plains as Belgium’s best depart following their quarter-final loss to Spain in Los Angeles.
- Belgium's glorious recent era peaked around 2018, built around Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois.
- Belgium face a painful rebuilding job, worsened by losing captain Youri Tielemans to a knack in the warm-up.
- Thibaut Courtois hinted at taking a helpful year away from internationals before returning for Euro 2028 qualifiers, complicating transition.
- End of the Golden Generation felt inevitable; the decline had been whining in the background for some time.
- Spain advance, set to meet France in the semi, with coach Luis de la Fuente adopting a confident, slightly wry tone.
Though in truth it has been whining in the background for a while now. The Red Devils’ real recent high point was probably all the way back in 2018 when peak De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois were joined by Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Kompany, Vertonghen, Fellaini, Hazard, Carrasco, you know, Mertens, Dembélé … Sessions. But there was no escaping the symbolism of the botched torch pass – a tearful Courtois heading off with an injury in the second half at SoFi Stadium, his replacement Senne Lammens fluffling his lines and handing Mikel Merino Spain’s winner on a plate.
“I gave him a big hug. He’s a great goalkeeper. You only get stronger from this,” Courtois said of his hapless teammate. “Eventually you cannot say much more to him or give him much more advice. He is a strong guy, strong personality. I’m sure he’ll be fine. You know, he will have some holidays and then regroup in Manchester and have a great season.”
Belgium – who were further hamstrung by the loss of their captain, Youri Tielemans, to knack in the warm-up – have a rebuilding job to do, although those waters are slightly muddied by reports suggesting Courtois fancies an unhelpful year off from the international game before returning for the Euro 2028 qualifiers. Spain, meanwhile, can look forward (if that is the right phrase) to a semi-final meeting with France. “They’ll be just as worried as we are,” roared Luis de la Fuente, perhaps slightly being stitched up in translation.
