Belgium's celebrated golden generation — Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel, Dries Mertens and Mousa Dembélé — bowed out after a group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The cohort topped their group in 2014, reached the semi-finals in 2018 and won the third-place play-off, plus quarter-final appearances at Euro 2016 and 2020. Spanish journalist Guillem Balague argued expectations were inflated for a nation under 12 million: "To be a golden generation you have to win some gold."

Veterans Leandro Trossard (31), Brandon Mechele (33), Timothy Castagne (33), Hans Vanaken (33) and Thomas Meunier (34) have likely played their final World Cup minutes. Manager Rudi Garcia called it a shame they couldn't secure "one last hurrah." Courtois insisted a new era had arrived, citing a 4-1 last-16 thrashing of co-hosts USA, though the tournament timeline in the report appears compressed.

The transition is already underway. Thirteen squad members are 25 or younger. Charles de Ketelaere (25) managed just three Serie A goals in 31 games last season but netted three times at the World Cup to finish as Belgium's joint-top scorer with an assist. Captain Youri Tielemans (29) scored the equaliser and winner in a comeback victory over Senegal in the last 32. Amadou Onana (24) impressed before an ACL injury against the USA, while Jérémy Doku (24) couldn't replicate his Manchester City form.

Garcia acknowledged the learning curve: "We learn through defeat." Belgium lost their goalkeeper, captain and were forced to substitute De Bruyne off-script. The duck's weren't in a row. The talent pipeline is real, but replacing a generation that defined Belgian football for a decade requires more than optimism — it demands durability and tournament nous the current crop has yet to prove.