Belgium's UEFA EURO 2024 team

The Belgian national football team, known as the Red Devils, has a fascinating history at the European Championships. Although Belgium has long been overshadowed by other major football nations in European football, the team has developed into a serious contender over the years. This transformation is partly due to the so-called “Golden Generation”, a group of exceptional talents who brought Belgium back to the international stage.

Belgium qualified for the European Championships for the first time in 1972 and surprisingly reached the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by West Germany. A decade later, in 1980, Belgium managed to reach the final, where they suffered a narrow defeat against the German team. This success marked a high point in the early history of Belgian football at the European Championships.

After a long dry spell, Belgium returned to the European Championships in 2016 and reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Wales. The team featured a promising mix of experienced players and young talent, ushering in a new era for Belgian football.

The 2021 European Championship was another significant milestone for Belgium. After a remarkable third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, Belgium had entered an era of success, powered by a “Golden Generation” of talented players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku. At Euro 2021, the team was led by coach Roberto Martínez, who is known for his tactical acumen and offensive style of play.

Belgium started the tournament strongly in the group stage, dominating their opponents with an impressive mix of technical skill and tactical precision. The 3-0 win against Russia in particular showed the potential of this team. In the following games, Belgium underlined its strength and reached the knockout rounds as group winners. In a thrilling round of 16 tie against Portugal, Belgium showed solid defense and sent the Portuguese team home with a 1-0 win, with Thorgan Hazard scoring the winning goal.
In the quarterfinals, Belgium faced Italy, a game that was considered one of the highlights of the tournament. Despite a brave performance and a late goal from Romelu Lukaku, Belgium suffered a 2-1 defeat. Exit in the quarter-finals was a disappointment for a team with so much talent and ambition, but it also showed that despite their qualities, Belgium still has steps to take to win a major international title.

Euro 2021 was a reflection of the Belgian team: talented, strong and full of potential, but ultimately still looking for the final step to the title. Nevertheless, Belgium left a lasting impression and showed that it remains a serious contender for European and global football success in the future.