Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Phil Craig
Guest(s)
Release Date
18 May 2023
Duration
64 min
In this double header episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by Phil Craig to assess the greatness of Belgium’s Golden Generation (2016–2021) — a side brimming with talent, style, and expectation, yet ultimately defined by near-misses.
Under Roberto Martínez, Belgium emerged as one of the most gifted international sides in modern football. With stars such as Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, and Vincent Kompany, they blended artistry and power in a way few teams could match. For years, Belgium sat atop the FIFA World Rankings, playing expansive, possession-based football that dazzled neutrals and restored pride to a nation long overshadowed by its neighbours.
The conversation explores their journey through major tournaments — from the promise of Euro 2016, to the brilliance of their 2018 World Cup semi-final run, and the frustration of Euro 2020 — dissecting the fine margins that separated triumph from heartbreak. The hosts debate Martínez’s tactical limitations, the balance of individual brilliance versus collective chemistry, and the psychological pressure of being labelled a “Golden Generation.”
Paired with their look at the New York Cosmos (1977–1978), this episode contrasts two forms of glamour in football: Belgium’s unrealised modern dominance, and the Cosmos’ glitzy 1970s dreamscape.
Ultimately, Belgium 2016–2021 are remembered as one of the most talented international teams never to win a major trophy — a cautionary tale of how greatness in football demands more than talent alone.
Takeaways
Belgium’s Golden Generation defined an era of beautiful but unfulfilled football.
Their style was admired worldwide but lacked the tactical flexibility to win it all.
Martínez’s loyalty to his system both elevated and limited the team.
The 2018 World Cup run remains their crowning achievement.
Belgium’s legacy is a reminder that greatness requires glory, not just talent.
Belgium 2016–2021: The Beautiful Nearly-Men
Between 2016 and 2021, Belgium boasted one of the most gifted international squads of the modern era — a so-called Golden Generation that combined individual brilliance, technical mastery, and attacking flair. Under Roberto Martínez, they rose to the top of the FIFA World Rankings, stayed there for over four years, and came within touching distance of football’s biggest prizes — yet never lifted one.
Their team was a who’s who of world-class talent: Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity, Eden Hazard’s artistry, Lukaku’s finishing, and Courtois’s command of the goal. The 2018 World Cup showcased Belgium at their best — a thrilling, fearless side who beat Brazil and reached the semi-finals before falling narrowly to France. But that high point also marked the beginning of decline: near misses at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup exposed fragilities beneath the golden surface.
Tactically, Belgium’s 3-4-2-1 system allowed for control and fluidity. They played with courage and invention, dominating possession and expressing themselves through width and precision passing. But their beauty often lacked ruthlessness; when the margins tightened, creativity couldn’t always compensate for rigidity or ageing legs.
For all their elegance, Belgium became the ultimate “what if” team — admired, consistent, and universally respected, yet without a defining triumph to immortalise them.
Their legacy is paradoxical: they redefined Belgium’s footballing identity and inspired a nation, but fell just short of greatness. In football history, Belgium 2016–2021 will forever be remembered as the team that made the world believe — but never conquered it.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
The rise of Belgium’s Golden Generation under Roberto Martínez
Tournament performances: Euro 2016, World Cup 2018, Euro 2020
FIFA World Ranking dominance and expectations
Key players: Hazard, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Courtois, Kompany
Tactical brilliance vs. managerial shortcomings
The psychology of a nation chasing its first major trophy
2018 World Cup quarter-final victory over Brazil (2–1)
Hazard’s masterclass vs Hungary at Euro 2016
Kevin De Bruyne’s devastating playmaking in Russia 2018
Euro 2020 heartbreak vs Italy
Holding the FIFA No. 1 world ranking for over four consecutive years
Notable Manager
Roberto Martínez, Marc Wilmots
Notable Players
Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Vincent Kompany, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Dries Mertens, Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielemans
Style of Play
3-4-2-1 formation, possession-based football, high technical skill, attacking width, transitional play, creative midfield, fluid movement
Belgium’s 2016–2021 identity was built on expansive, high-possession football inspired by Spanish and Catalan philosophies — but with a Belgian twist. Under Roberto Martínez, they typically deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation that maximised width, technical precision, and transitions from defence to attack.
Anchored by Courtois, Vertonghen, and Alderweireld, Belgium played out from the back, relying on composure and patience to lure opponents forward before unleashing their creative core. Axel Witsel and Youri Tielemans operated as deep-lying conductors, freeing De Bruyne and Hazard to roam between the lines. Up front, Romelu Lukaku served as both finisher and focal point — a blend of power, pace, and precision.
Their football was breathtaking when it clicked: fluid, fast, and attacking in waves. Yet their weakness was structural — a reliance on individual brilliance, occasional defensive frailty, and a lack of tactical variation against elite opposition.
Belgium 2016–2021 will be remembered for their beauty, their balance, and their burden. A team that embodied the modern game’s artistry, but fell agonisingly short of immortality.
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