Belgium fans have been filmed ripping up the streets of Brussels in anger after Sunday’s dismal 2-0 World Cup defeat to Morocco. The violent riots led to a car being smashed and flipped over and fireworks going off after Roberto Martinez’s side slipped down Group F with another poor performance.
Worrying scenes have emerged from Belgium’s capital, with furious supporters shouting, destroying a red car and setting off fireworks in daylight in their hundreds. The No 2-ranked side in the world were below-par in the 2022 World Cup again, but this time weren’t let off lightly as their African opponents soared at the Al-Thumama Stadium.
Morocco thought they had grabbed the lead on the brink of half-time through Hakim Ziyech’s inswinging free-kick. However, Roman Saiss was adjudged to be in an offside position and Thibaut Courtois’ line of sight when the Chelsea winger delivered the ball.
But Walid Regragui’s men didn’t let that disappointment thwart them. Courtois produced a 73rd-minute howler to let former Huddersfield Town midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri’s inswinger beat him at the near post. And after Belgium failed to respond, despite Romelu Lukaku’s return to the pitch with 10 minutes left, Zakaria Aboukhlal sealed the win in stoppage time.
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Despite Belgium winning their opener against Canada 1-0, they garnered mass criticism for their performance. Big questions have been raised about Martinez’s ageing squad, with many key players potentially over the hill in terms of performing in their prime.
And Kevin De Bruyne didn’t help simmer doubt about the nation’s hopes in Qatar, admitting they had ‘no chance’ of lifting the World Cup trophy on December 18. He said: “No chance, we’re too old. I think our chance was in 2018. We have a good team, but it is ageing. We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018. I see us more as outsiders.”
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With their opening-matchday draw with Croatia and their triumph over Belgium, Morocco are sitting top of Group F on four points, with Canada to play last. The Red Devils, on three points, will slip down to third if Croatia defeat Canada this evening and face Zlatko Dalic in a last-16 play-off next week.
But as the shocking Snapchat clips from Brussels emerge, it’s clear that discontent is plaguing the Belgium fanbase and the squad. And with the 2022 World Cup likely the last tournament featuring most of the nation’s ‘Golden Age’, their MD3 clash with Croatia will have a significant now-or-never feel.
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