Why Belgium’s golden generation need World Cup win

Belgium national team captain Eden Hazard says his country need to win the World Cup in Qatar to justify the golden generation tag.

The current crop of players have carried the tag for the past 10 years and they look to deliver the country’s first major trophy.

STAR PLAYERS

They have top players representing some of Europe’s biggest clubs like Hazard, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. The Red Devils carry hopes to a nation of almost 12 million people that they can win a major trophy at last.

Hazard has captained Belgium since 2015 and will participate in his third World Cup, hoping to go further than their third place at Russia 2018.

“I have to set the bar high. I’m going to try to do better than in 2018,” he told FIFA.

“It’ll be tough because that was already pretty good. I’m fortunate to be the captain of a great team and a big footballing nation, and so we owe it to ourselves to have high expectations.”

Belgium kick off their campaign against Canada on 23 November before facing Morocco four days later and Croatia on 1 December.

BELGIUM POSSIBLE WORLD CUP SQUAD

Goalkeepers:
GK: Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid
GK: Koen Casteels, Wolfsburg
GK: Simon Mignolet, Club Brugge
GK: Matz Sels, Racing Strasbourg

Defenders:
DF: Dedryck Boyata, Club Brugge
DF: Timothy Castagne, Leicester
DF: Wout Faes, Leicester
DF: Thomas Meunier, Borussia Dortmund
DF: Arthur Theate, Rennes
DF: Jan Vertonghen, Anderlecht
DF: Toby Alderweireld, Antwerp
DF: Jason Denayer, Unattached
DF: Brandon Mechele, Club Brugge
DF: Zeno Debast, Anderlecht

Midfielders:
MF: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
MF: Charles De Ketelaere, AC Milan
MF: Leander Dendocker, Aston Villa
MF: Eden Hazard, Real Madrid
MF: Thorgan Hazard, Borussia Dortmund
MF: Alexis Saelemaekers, AC Milan
MF: Amadou Onana, Everton
MF: Hans Vanaken, Club Brugge
MF: Axel Witsel, Atletico Madrid
MF: Youri Tielemans, Leicester City
MF: Leandro Trossard, Brighton

Forwards:
FW: Dries Mertens, Galatasaray
FW: Yannick Carrasco, Atletico Madrid
FW: Dodi Lukebakio, Hertha Berlin
FW: Lois Openda, Lens
FW: Michy Batshuayi, Fenerbahce