Belgium coach Roberto Martinez sums up group exit in FIFA World Cup: We weren’t ourselves

FIFA World Cup: A disappointed Belgium coach gave his thoughts after the team’s group stage knockout in the tournament. Roberto Martinez insisted that the golden generation was not finished and that the losses were down to Belgium’s own faults.

Belgium players react after FIFA World Cup exit. (Courtesy: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has summed up their shock exit from the FIFA World Cup group stage stating that the team did not play to its identity. Martinez, who resigned after the game was in charge of Belgium since 2016 and took them to a third place finish in the 2018 edition of the tournament. Under him, Belgium became one of the most exciting teams to watch in world football.

The coach admitted that they had not played to their potential and deserved to lose two out of three matches.

“It’s not easy to win games in the World Cup. We weren’t ourselves in first game we had a deserved defeat in second game. Today we were ready, we created opportunities and today there is no regrets. We’re out but we can leave with our heads held high,” the coach said.

Asked if this was the end of Belgium’s golden generation, the coach said that legacy can be left in many ways in the field.

“You see Youri Tielemans and other young players – the golden generation is doing something that is bringing the next generation on. It’s not what names are on the pitch the legacy can be left in many ways.”

Coming into the tournament one of team’s top players Kevin de Bruyne had told The Guardian that Belgium’s best chance to win the World Cup was in 2018 and the team was too old to repeat their run.

Martinez although said that the World Cup was tough and despite wanting to will all games, they could not repeat their 2018 feat.

“No, we wanted to get through but I’m sure the other national teams wanted to get through and that’s the tournament. In the previous World Cup we won three games in the group stage, we wanted to go all the way.”