The Belgian national team faced an unforeseen upset against Morocco during the 2022 World Cup's second match. What added to the surprise was Morocco securing a solid 2-0 victory over Belgium.
Romain Saiss and Zakaria Aboukhail netted Morocco's two goals. This outcome is particularly astonishing given Belgium's current standing as the second-ranked team in FIFA. Despite once reigning as the top-ranked team, comprehending this defeat proves challenging.
Questions swirled about Belgium's unexpected performance against Morocco, especially given Belgium's wealth of talented players. The spotlight of criticism fell on Belgium's coach, Roberto Martinez.
Martinez, despite previously elevating Belgium's FIFA rankings, struggled to clinch titles. Consequently, calls emerged for Belgium to consider replacing Martinez as coach. Here's why:
Roberto Martinez stepped into the role of Belgium's coach in 2016. However, his coaching track record wasn't notably impressive, having been dismissed from Everton before joining Belgium.
Following a lackluster season with Everton, Martinez was dismissed in May 2016. Remarkably, within three months of being unemployed, he was recruited by the Belgian football federation. Despite his stunted start with Belgium, where they suffered a loss to Spain in his debut match, Martinez gradually steered the team toward progress, albeit not in a significantly dazzling manner.
Under Roberto Martinez's tenure, the Belgian national team has grappled with an underwhelming track record when it comes to claiming major trophies. His coaching stint has been characterized by a lack of impressive results, bordering on poor performance.
Take, for instance, the 2018 World Cup where Belgium triumphed in the group stage, topping Group G by securing victories in all their matches against England, Tunisia, and Panama, gathering a total of 9 points.
Their dominance continued into the knockout phase, propelling them to the semi-finals. However, their aspirations were shattered when they were defeated by the French national team, ending their hopes of clinching the championship. While Belgium managed to secure third place in the tournament, it fell short of their ambitions. Martinez was expected to guide Belgium to the final.
Moving to EURO 2020, Martinez's Belgium faced another setback, failing to progress beyond the quarterfinals after a defeat to eventual champions Italy. Their struggles extended to the UEFA Nations League, where Belgium settled for a second-place finish in League A Group 4, suffering defeats, notably against the Dutch with a crushing 4-1 scoreline.
Amid these disappointments, Martinez's approach to tactics and playing style for the Belgian national team has stagnated. His preference for a 3-4-3 or its variant has been persistent, showing limited innovation, particularly in player selection.
Even in the recent loss to Morocco in the Qatar World Cup, Martinez attempted a shift to the popular 4-2-3-1 formation. However, his lack of consistent innovation, especially in player choices, has been apparent throughout various competitions.
Moreover, Martinez's failure to grasp his players' playing styles has drawn criticism, notably from Belgium's captain, Kevin de Bruyne. De Bruyne highlighted Martinez's tendency to impose playing styles not in sync with the team's strengths, lamenting the lack of a cohesive tactical system and the team's defensive approach despite having a wealth of attacking talents at their disposal.
Roberto Martinez has frequently appeared out of sync with his own players, showcasing contrasting opinions that clash with his team. Kevin de Bruyne once highlighted the team's age, a statement that Martinez promptly refuted, creating a disconnect.
Moreover, Martinez has developed a knack for publicly criticizing his own squad. Following the defeat to Morocco, he didn't shy away from censuring Eden Hazard's playing style, despite being the one who entrusted Hazard with responsibility on the field.
Martinez's recent coaching demeanor has been marked by a lack of optimism, a departure from the confidence he previously displayed. He's voiced a readiness to endure hardship, indicating a 'fear of losing' mentality that echoes their loss against Morocco at the Qatar World Cup. Such pessimism hardly befits a coach.
Within Belgium, Martinez has faced public disfavor, attributed to the dearth of significant achievements under his leadership, almost amounting to zero success. His decisions, including team line-ups, have drawn widespread condemnation from Belgian fans, evident when names like Alderweireld, Vertonghen, and Michy Batshuayi featured against Morocco.
Critics have labeled Martinez a major disappointment in football, asserting that he may not continue coaching the Belgian national team post the 2022 World Cup, especially with rumors hinting at the conclusion of his tenure under the Spanish coach's stewardship within the Belgian national team. However, there's been no official word regarding the Royal Belgian FA's contract renewal intentions.
Despite a dismal performance at the 2022 World Cup, Martinez seems convinced about an extension, as per reports from the Irish Mirror. Yet, further failure could potentially prompt Martinez's exit from the Belgian national team, raising doubts about his continuity in the role.
No comments