Belgium’s individual brilliance is what makes them so dangerous

The pressure that come with being a so-called ‘Golden Generation’ is often disregarded. When a country stumbles across its best group of players in decades, maybe ever, it’s presumed that success will naturally follow. That the fulfilment of their potential is not a question of if, but when.

Of course, that’s not always the case. England’s ‘Golden Generation’ didn’t even make it past the quarter-finals of a major tournament, failing to even qualify for the 2008 European Championships. Now the pressure that comes with such a tag has fallen on the shoulders of Belgium. Their current generation is a golden one and they are expected to distinguish it with silverware.

Their performance at Euro 2016 so far has been mixed, though. Belgium boast one of the strongest, deepest squads at the tournament this summer, but that hasn’t always translated into prowess on the field. Marc Wilmots is already being prepared as the sacrificial scapegoat.

It’s somewhat remarkable that Wilmots has been Belgium manager this long. In the run up to the 2014 World Cup the Belgian FA felt the need to mount a PR campaign deflecting blame away from the national team boss, such was the ire directed his way. The ploy worked to a certain extent, as Belgium’s run to the quarter-finals was rendered a success despite a number of insipid performances.

He won’t be afforded the same lenience this time around, though. Wilmots faces the prospect of going down as the man who wasted his country’s greatest ever group of players should Belgium fall before the final. He has already bore the brunt of fury and frustration following the opening game defeat to Italy. Imagine how much he will bear if Belgium are knocked out.

But Belgium are more dangerous than they are generally being credited for. They might have stumbled - coasted at best - their way through the competition until this point, but Wilmots’ side should be considered one of the frontrunners to win the whole thing at the Stade de France on July 10.

While sides like Iceland and Northern Ireland have provided the tournament’s most compelling stories through their team spirit and unity, Belgium’s strength can be found in their possession of so much individual brilliance. For all their shortcomings - of which there are plenty - that’s something they’re certainly not short of.

Republic of Ireland found that out, as did Hungary. Both sides were dispatched not by Belgium as a team, but by the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne as individuals. In all four games the Red Devils have played at Euro 2016 they have looked disjointed and generally out of sync. At their worst they have appeared directionless.

However, at a major tournament like the European Championships a streak in form can be enough. Ih Hazard can maintain the form he found in the round of 16 thumping of Hungary, if Lukaku can pick up where he left off with his double against Ireland, Belgium could go the distance as a result of their sheer strength of squad. Team spirit? Who needs that when you have individual brilliance?

Yet there are still those who doubt whether Belgium’s best players can hit the heights at the right time. Lukaku, just as he does at club level, plays not only with the number nine on his back, but a target there too. “He runs all the time and tires out defences, creates space for others,” Wilmots said this earlier week, launching a defence of the Everton striker. “Believe me, defenders, when they are up against him, are not laughing. Against Hungary he was off the mark with one lay-off. One! He can’t get away with the slightest mistake. Everything he does has to come off.”

Hazard is prone to dramatic dips in form too, as Chelsea fans will attest. Therein lies the pitfall of depending so greatly on the quality of individuals. When those individuals falter, so do the chances of the team as a whole. That’s a fate Belgium could suffer should Hazard, Lukaku and co. stumble between now and the end of the tournament.

Yet the flip side of that is what makes them so potent. Belgium as a unit might not be much better than average, but at this most open of tournaments that might be enough. They say football is a team game, but Belgium must count on it being decided by individuals.