Belgium nailed by Iran, Saelemaekers flop: 0-0 and black crisis
The Red Devils are struggling at Qatar 2022: without a goal against Iran, Ngoy sent off and Saelemaekers replaced in the second half. The lack of ideas endangers qualification.
The Red Devils are struggling at Qatar 2022: without a goal against Iran, Ngoy sent off and Saelemaekers replaced in the second half. The lack of ideas endangers qualification.
Belgium exited the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium with an awkward 0-0 draw against Iran, a result that ruined their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. The Red Devils showed a total lack of offensive incisiveness, with only 3 total shots and zero concrete opportunities. Alexis Saelemaekers, starting from the start, was one of the main culprits: slow in his movements, incapable of creating superiority and replaced in the 65th minute by Dodi Lukebakio without having left his mark.
Roberto Martínez's bench also paid the price for the lack of creative alternatives, forcing the team to play on narrow and predictable tracks. The tactical defeat culminated with the expulsion of Arthur Theate in the 90+3 minute, after a foul on Mehdi Taremi which definitively closed any margin for recovery. The brace of yellow cards for Taremi further complicated the situation for the Belgians, who were already effectively outnumbered.
Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand performed the miracle with at least three decisive interventions, while his counterpart Thibaut Courtois remained idle for the entire match. The statistics speak for themselves: Belgium dominated possession (62%) but without ever translating it into scoring chances. There were 23 crosses, but only 3 arrived in useful space, and the shots from outside the area were 11 out of 14 in total.
The lack of a top reference like Romelu Lukaku, injured, was felt: no player exceeded 50 completed passes, and the team accumulated 18 decisive errors. Belgium also suffered the pressure of a compact group like Iran, who exploited the spaces left open by the Belgian team's lack of verticality. Roberto Martínez tried to justify the performance by talking about a "difficult match against a compact opponent", but the reality is that the Red Devils seemed like a team without ideas, prisoners of a system that was unable to adapt.
Saelemaekers, fresh from a fluctuating season at Milan, confirmed the doubts about his ability to impose himself at high levels: 0 shots, 0 assists and only 1 dribble completed in 55 minutes. His substitution came too late to change the outcome of the match, but highlighted the need for an immediate change of direction. Courtois ended the match with a sharp: "We had our chances, but we weren't concrete enough.
" Even the Belgian press did not mince words: *Het Laatste Nieuws* headlined "België in crisis" and *Le Soir* spoke of "one of the worst performances of the Golden Generation". Iran, on the other hand, demonstrated its ability to make the most of Belgian weaknesses, with a solid defensive block and a quick transition that put a team used to dominating the game in difficulty. This result is not just a defeat of the day, but the symptom of a deeper crisis that goes beyond the single match.
Belgium, until recently considered one of the main favorites for the title, is showing signs of structural collapse. The Golden Generation, fresh from a disappointing European Championship 2020, seems to have lost the spark that took them to the top of world football. The lack of a charismatic leader on the pitch, combined with a squad that no longer has the same athletic freshness, is becoming a serious problem.
Even Martínez's tactical changes, often criticized for their rigidity, are not bearing the desired results. Another element that weighs is the media pressure and the expectation generated. Belgium arrived in Qatar with the burden of being considered one of the teams to beat, and every misstep is amplified.
The international press has already started to question the future of this generation, wondering whether it is time to start thinking about a generational change. Modern football is unforgiving, and Belgium is paying the price for not having been able to evolve. The defeat against Iran accelerated this process, making a concrete response even more urgent.
Iran, for its part, has written a historic page. Despite not having the same technical quality as Belgium, the Asian team has demonstrated its ability to organize itself impeccably, making the most of their opponents' weaknesses. Coach Carlos Queiroz orchestrated a perfect match, with a team that knew how to close off all the spaces and neutralize the Belgian individualities.
This result not only gives the Iranians hopes of qualifying, but also marks a turning point for Asian football, which shows that it can compete at a high level. Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen added some context: "We are all aware that this is a team in transition. We are no longer the same as we were four years ago, but we have to find a way to react.
" What's next: Belgium must react immediately against Canada, in a match that could be decisive for qualification. A victory is a must, but even if successful, qualification will not be a given given the level of the group. Iran, on the other hand, will play everything against England, with the concrete possibility of going through already on the second day if Belgium were to fall.
The pressure is maximum on both teams, but while the Belgians must find an immediate solution, the Iranians have shown that they can compete with any opponent. Read at MilanNews24
A draw against Iran is not just a point lost, but a wake-up call for one of the tournament favourites. Belgium risks becoming the big disappointment of the 2022 World Cup, with a team that seems to have lost the magic of past years. The lack of a plan B, the absence of Lukaku and the lackluster performance of Saelemaekers call into question not only the qualification, but also the very future of the Belgian Golden Generation. If there is no immediate reaction, the World Cup could turn into an unprecedented flop. Now the pressure is maximum: Belgium must win against Canada to avoid risking elimination on the second day, but even if successful, qualification will not be a given given the strength of the group. Iran, on the other hand, has demonstrated that even teams considered inferior can compete at a high level, opening up new prospects for Asian football.
MilanNews24milannews24.comBy Alberto PetrosilliJun 21, 9:53 PMit-IT
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