Belgium vs. Iran: How Kevin De Bruyne's Red Devils 'golden generation' is limping to an end at World Cup 2026

Belgium were held to a frustrating 0-0 gully by Group G rivals Iran connected Sunday afternoon, continuing their lacklustre commencement to World Cup 2026.

Rudi Garcia's Red Devils are ranked ninth successful the satellite by FIFA, but they consistently neglect to execute to the standards expected of 1 of the 10 champion teams connected Earth.

Lofty expectations person been placed connected the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku implicit the years, but they person struggled - adjacent much truthful successful the lack of Eden Hazard this clip around.

Belgium's 1-1 gully with Egypt connected matchday 1 besides required a comeback, though they were incapable to find the backmost of the nett themselves and were the beneficiaries of an ain extremity from Mohamed Hany.

Here, aft the Red Devils' stalemate against Iran, Sports Mole takes a look astatine however Belgium's 'golden generation' is drafting to a lacklustre close.

Belgium stay the under-performers astatine World Cup 2026

From the mid-2010s onwards, Belgium were mostly considered to boast 1 of the astir awesome squads successful planetary football.

Thibaut Courtois successful extremity - shielded by Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen - was a beardown rearguard, and bolstered by De Bruyne and Hazard creating chances for Lukaku up top, it was hard to spot however the Red Devils could beryllium stopped.

However, Belgium ne'er delivered connected their promise, and they were eliminated astatine the quarter-final signifier successful Euro 2016 and 2020, though they did negociate a third-placed decorativeness astatine World Cup 2018.

Each contention that passed by brought a caller circular of exits from the nationalist squad arsenic players began to property retired of the squad, and erstwhile the 2022 World Cup saw Belgium neglect to advancement beyond the radical stage, Hazard called clip connected his planetary career.

The erstwhile Chelsea playmaker's determination to locomotion distant was a sobering infinitesimal for the side, who went connected to scope the circular of 16 astatine Euro 2024, wherever they mislaid 1-0 against France aft conceding a Vertonghen ain goal.

This clip around, Belgium are without adjacent Vertonghen, leaving a squad that is lacking successful prima prime extracurricular of a De Bruyne that is approaching his 35th birthday, and 33-year-old Lukaku.

That being said, Garcia's broadside should person been much than susceptible of beating some Egypt and Iran this summer, but their progression hangs successful the equilibrium alternatively aft 2 draws. 

Belgium's stars astatine World Cup 2026

De Bruyne and Lukaku are the past remnants of the alleged 'golden generation' that had Belgium fans dreaming large implicit the past decade.

The duo - who some presently ply their commercialized for Napoli successful Serie A - are successful the second stages of their respective careers, but they are inactive the standouts successful this lacklustre Red Devils group.

De Bruyne has been the talisman successful presumption of creativity, portion Belgium's apical goalscorer of each time, Lukaku, has provided the lone genuine attacking menace the federation person mustered this summer.

Lukaku came disconnected the seat against Egypt with his squad 1-0 down, and went connected to unit the ain extremity that levelled the people wrong 30 seconds of his introduction.

Unfortunately for the striker, helium besides missed a header precocious connected that could person won the crippled for his side, adding to his database of costly errors.

On Sunday, De Bruyne created a fig of chances against Iran, but helium volition person been frustrated to spot his teammates neglect to convert.

One of the astir notable examples came arsenic the midfielder plucked the shot retired of the entity connected the left-hand broadside of the absorption container earlier playing a transverse into a crowded area, but aft chaos ensued, Maxim De Cuyper's tame effort was saved by Alireza Beiranvand from 4 yards out.

The aboriginal of Belgium's squad is uninspiring

Given their ages, World Cup 2026 is apt to beryllium the last 1 that De Bruyne and Lukaku enactment in, and looking astatine the Belgium squad much broadly could beryllium origin for interest for fans.

A fig of bully players specified arsenic Manchester City's Jeremy Doku, Arsenal's Leandro Trossard and Aston Villa brace Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans correspond the Red Devils.

However, it would beryllium just to accidental that the 26-man database is devoid of a superstar sanction beyond the established veterans, and it remains to beryllium seen who volition instrumentality the mantle going forward.