Belgium CT Marc Wilmots says ‘we can talk about a golden generation once we’ve won a title.’
The Belgians face Italy, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in Euro 2016 Group E and take on the Azzurri in their opening game on 13 June.
Wilmots told Gazzetta dello Sport that he expects his side to be better prepared for tournament football than they were at the World Cup two years ago, having gained more experience.
Belgium CT Marc Wilmots says ‘we can talk about a golden generation once we’ve won a title.’
The Belgians face Italy, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in Euro 2016 Group E and take on the Azzurri in their opening game on 13 June.
Wilmots told Gazzetta dello Sport that he expects his side to be better prepared for tournament football than they were at the World Cup two years ago, having gained more experience.
“Belgium’s golden generation? Many people have defined it as that so far and my players are great, in the last few years they’ve all done well,” he told the newspaper.
“But we’re missing a title. After they’ve won one we can talk about a golden generation.
“The number one ranking is a question of arithmetic, it depends on the coefficients, on the steadiness of the team. It can’t be a burden, because it’s objective and shows the good work that’s been done.
“At the World Cup Belgium were a young team and it still is, but in the meantime they’ve got experience. In Brazil we were the youngest team after Ghana for average age. This means something.
“And in qualifying we adapted, we looked for a solution to the game of the teams we faced.
“We’re more experienced now. There isn’t the anxiety of the first time any more, even though the team is still really young. But when we returned to the World Cup after 12 years away, everyone was very nervous.
“Now we’re calmer. Benteke and De Bruyne, to name just two, have been involved in major transfers. They’ve gained confidence and self-esteem. And in general we’re all more relaxed.
“Terrorist threat? I can speak for myself, because in this case it’s the only thing I can do. Life goes on, we need to go forward, travel, fly, train.
“I understand people’s emotion, because by now this is a war. But there’s the certainty that life goes on. Many generations before us behaved in the same way.
“There’s always security at the big tournaments, in Brazil we always had helicopters flying overhead during our training sessions. We were already guarded then. I don’t think it’s a problem.
“Does experience of tournaments as a player help? Of course, because when you’ve gone through certain situations you can prevent difficulties and anticipate things. We’ve looked for a comfortable place, a retreat that wasn’t a prison. At a tournament like the World Cup or the Euros all the details matter."