Martinez to build next generation of stars

Belgium's coach Roberto Martinez reacts at the end of their Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final match against France at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on July 10, 2018. PHOTO | FRANCOIS XAVIER |

What you need to know:

  • The 2020 European Championships will be held in 12 cities in 12 different European countries from June 20 to July 20, 2020 as the tournament marks 60 years since it was first held. London’s Wembley Stadium will host the semi-finals and the final.
  • Martinez, who has signed a new contract with the Belgian federation, has backed his team to bounce back from the semi-final loss to France and put up a strong performance in the third place play-off match on Saturday.
  • “Belgium has a lot of talent coming through the system. I am disappointed by the result. We did not come here to have a good tournament and to finish fourth. It was about winning the tournament,” the Spaniard told journalists after Tuesday’s match.

IN MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Belgium’s coach Roberto Martinez has set his sights on building the next generation of players with a focus on 2020 European Championships.

The Spaniard, whose team lost 1-0 to France in the World Cup semi-finals in St Petersburg on Tuesday, has also said Belgium has promising stars for the future.

"As is the case with any big tournament, we need to look at the younger generation and try to become stronger from tournament to tournament. And in my role I've got the eyes into Euro 2020 so it's not the right moment to make an assessment (about the team’s performance in World Cup) just yet."

Seven members of Belgium’s 23-man squad competing at the World Cup in Russia (Simon Mignolet, Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini and Mousa Dembele) are aged 30 years and above and may retire before the 2022 World Cup in France.

Belgium reached the quarter-finals of the 2016 tournament held in France and won by Portugal.

The 2020 European Championships will be held in 12 cities in 12 different European countries from June 20 to July 20, 2020 as the tournament marks 60 years since it was first held. London’s Wembley Stadium will host the semi-finals and the final.

Martinez, who has signed a new contract with the Belgian federation, has backed his team to bounce back from the semi-final loss to France and put up a strong performance in the third place play-off match on Saturday.

“Belgium has a lot of talent coming through the system. I am disappointed by the result. We did not come here to have a good tournament and to finish fourth. It was about winning the tournament,” the Spaniard told journalists after Tuesday’s match.

After the match, Belgium’s captain Eden Hazard and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois accused France of employing ‘anti-football tactics’ in Tuesday’s loss.

Samuel Umtiti’s 51st-minute header was the difference between the teams on Tuesday at Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg.

France will be seeking to win a second world title when they play in Sunday’s final. Belgium, ranked third globally by Fifa, has played in 13 editions of the Fifa World Cup.

The team finished fourth in the 1986 edition of the tournament in what is the Red Devils’ best performance in the global tournament so far.

Kimpembe celebration that threatened to send his team mates the treatment room

***

When Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti rose highest to head in Antoine Griezmann’s corner in the 51st minute for France against Belgium in the first semi-final match of the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday at Saint Petersburg, he set off wild celebrations among French fans both on the stands and at his team’s technical bench.

In moments leading up to the goal, Griezmann sent in a well-taken corner ball and Umtiti outjumped lanky Belgian Marouane Fellaini to head the ball past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, then the Barcelona man ran to the side of the pitch for a small jig where he was joined by team mates Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Griezmann.

One would think that the pace and skill of Belgium’s Eden Hazard would be the biggest sources of danger for France on the night, yet that came from within the French squad, at the sound of the final whistle.

And it came from the unlikeliest of sources - Paris Saint-Germain defender with Congolese roots Presnel Kimpembe.

Excited at reaching, the 22-year-old launched himself on the ground in a spirited knee slide that took him straight onto a pile of his excited team mates who were celebrating on the ground.

Luckily, the unused substitute did not plough his knees into the ribs of any of his team mates but the performance ended with him lying on top of the pile of players.

Luckily, the French players escaped with no more than just having to catch their breath after the extended celebrations.

At full time, the party continued, France having inflicted pain on a talented generation of Belgian most talented players.

Deschamps himself was mobbed by members of his coaching team.

"Finals have to be won. We have still not got over the one we lost two years ago,” Deschamps, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning squad, said afterwards in reference to France’s 1-0 loss to Portugal in the final of 2016 European Championship at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.