The curtain is falling on Belgium's 'Golden Generation', as they stumbled out of the quarter-finals, defeated by Spain in a heart-wrenching finale. The Red Devils' exit has sparked intense debate about the team's future – do they need a major rebuild or can they cling to their fading stars?
Thursday's defeat was laced with symbolism, as key players fell like dominoes. Thibaut Courtois, the talismanic goalkeeper, limped off in the second half, his place taken by Senne Lammens, who handed Spain a gift-wrapped goal.
Courtois' classy response to Lammens' howler only served as a reminder of the team's transition woes. "He's an absolute rock-star of a goalkeeper," he said, with characteristic humility. But Courtois may soon be facing his own reality check – reports suggest he might hang up his international boots for 12 months before returning to the fray.
The absence of captain Youri Tielemans, due to injury sustained in the warm-up, further highlighted Belgium's over-reliance on a dwindling group of veterans. It's a conundrum that has dogged them since their golden peak around 2018, when they boasted an all-star line-up featuring Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, and Eden Hazard.
Now, the path ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. Can Belgium coax a new generation of stars into action or will they be forced to cling to their fading heroes? The clock is ticking – but for how long?
Meanwhile, Spain's semi-final showdown with France promises to be an electrifying encounter, with coach Luis de la Fuente relishing the challenge despite facing the world champions.