The Belgians are shocked by the defeat against the Ukrainian national team (1:3) in the first match of the Nations League playoffs and cannot understand how it was possible to lose after their team took the lead in this match. Local fans are disappointed with the performance of the team leaders (De Bruyne, Courtois, Trossard, Tielemans) and the coaching staff, which completely collapsed in the second half. The Belgians believe that such a defeat against Ukraine, especially in terms of gameplay, is humiliating for a team of this level. Some are already writing that the football federation chose the wrong coach. Some star players are already overdue to end their careers in the national team.
Marane: I am in shock. How can you lead 1:0 and ultimately lose 1:3? It’s complete humiliation! Ukraine could have scored a few more goals against us, and we just stopped. De Bruyne, Courtois, Tielemans, Trossard — where were you?
Linzo: How could we fall apart like this in the second half? We looked disgraceful compared to the Ukrainians. Ukraine simply destroyed us, and our stars turned out to be non-entities. Disappointment is putting it mildly.
Sebastien: A disgraceful match! Belgium should have won easily, but instead, we got torn apart. De Bruyne played as if he was forced onto the field, Courtois didn’t save anything at all, and Tielemans and Trossard seemed to have forgotten that this was an important match.
Jarni: This is not just a defeat, it’s a disaster! We led 1:0, everything was under control, and then — a complete failure. Ukraine outplayed us in every aspect! I haven’t seen such shame in a long time.
Sofiane: 1:3? We should have beaten Ukraine comfortably, but instead, we received a painful lesson. Our leaders failed! How could we give up the game so mindlessly? The team simply lacks character. We gave up after the first conceded goal!
Depretre: I thought we would win easily, and now I don’t even know what to say. De Bruyne showed nothing, Courtois didn’t save, and Tielemans and Trossard didn’t contribute at all. I have nothing to say about the rest. It was as if they weren’t even on the field! We deserved this disgrace.
Azeez: I didn’t expect such a failure from the national team. Belgium is a team that should fight for trophies, yet we concede three from Ukraine and can’t pull ourselves together. It’s terrible! Probably the worst match in recent years in terms of quality of play.
Gwendoline: We could have lost 1:5, and no one would have been surprised. After the first conceded goal, the team simply gave up. Where is the spirit, where is the character? This is a humiliating defeat. We were lucky that the Ukrainians didn’t run to finish us off. It could have been a rout.
DePauw: Ukraine destroyed us! How could we turn from obvious favorites to complete outsiders in just one half? This is one of Belgium’s most disgraceful matches in recent years.
Bert: What was that? We led 1:0, and then we just stopped. Ukraine outplayed us, outran us, tactically outsmarted us. Where was Belgium? Where were our best players? What actually happened in this match?
Geerts: De Bruyne looked in this match as if he didn’t care to play. Courtois returned to the national team for no reason; his best years are already behind. Many other players are simply not at the level of the Belgium national team. A complete failure.
Fourier: This was humiliating. How could we lose so badly to Ukraine? I no longer believe in this national team. We have neither character nor discipline. We simply stopped. Ukraine destroyed us, and our leaders didn’t even try to change anything. Shame!
Bruggeman: A team without character, without ideas, without the will to win. How could we give up so easily? If Ukraine had won 4:1 or 5:1, I wouldn’t even be surprised. We showed nothing after their first goal. This is not a team; this is a group of lost players.
VanDeVelde: How embarrassing for Belgium. Where is the fight? Where are the emotions? Where is the leadership? This was just humiliation! We will achieve nothing again at international tournaments, even if we get there with this attitude. This generation has officially lived its time!
Daele: I can’t believe our team fell apart like this. Ukraine crushed us! How could one allow such a nightmare? I don’t recognize Belgium. Earlier we at least fought, but now we are just being swept away. Without fight, without character, without defense.
Roel: Everyone hoped Courtois would save us, but he didn’t even try to jump hard for the balls. De Bruyne disappeared, Tielemans — a shadow of himself. Just a terrible match! Ukraine showed that football is not just about names but also about character. We are devoid of that character.
Ceuppens: A team that wants to achieve something does not play like this. How could we just switch off from the game? I do not recognize the Belgium national team. This is just cowardly football, devoid of ideas and emotions.
Bollue: Ukraine destroyed us, and we thought it would be a walk in the park. Complete failure! I can’t believe we lost with such disgrace. Our stars didn’t even try to save the game!
Dreelinck: Horrible match! Ukraine just tore us apart, and we didn’t even resist. This match should be shown in coaching courses — how not to play football. A disgraceful failure for almost all players and, especially, the coaching staff.
Buijsse: After the first conceded goal, I already knew how it would end. The team just broke down. Our defense is a circus. Courtois didn’t even try to save, and the midfield simply stood aside and waved their hands when we conceded goals.
Masset: This is the worst defeat in a long time. Tactically, we were destroyed, physically overpowered. We had nothing to oppose. 1:3 is still a very good result after such a game. Ukraine could have scored more against us, and we couldn’t even hit the target properly.
Vanbesien: Belgium is not a grand team. This defeat is a verdict on this generation. After this match, I am ashamed of our national team. We are not a team; we are a group of players who are uninterested in fighting for a positive result.
