In any sport, a Golden Generation is a group of remarkably talented players in the same generation who have accomplished or are projected to accomplish a high level of success. With gifted young stars like Jean-Marie Pfaff, Eric Gerets, Jan Ceulemans, and Enzo Scifo, Belgium's Red Devils enter the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as the undisputed Golden Generation in today's Football.
Truly, there is no question on the amount and pedigree of talent that the current Belgium national team carries. Majority of their roster belong to the "Who's Who" of today's English Premier League. Last year, the team booked their ticket for this summer's World Cup, Belgium's first attendance at a major tournament for more than 8 years, and have risen considerably in the FFIA World Rankings - from 68th four years ago to 11th in the latest FIFA rankings.
For Belgium and its football fans, the future looks bright indeed!
Every prominent and decorated football country, however, has had a golden generation of footballers that helped carry their nations to the top. The current defending World Cup champions of Spain and the Brazilian teams of the past are all perfect examples of this. The big question now is whether or not Belgium's Golden Generation can bring home their first World Cup trophy.
An impressive display in the UEFA 2014 and a squad of young talent that is the envy of most of Europe make Belgium one of the teams to watch in the tournament. They are also one of the favorites to win it all in Brazil - ranked fifth by Bookmarkers behind a pool of football powerhouses and former world cup champions in Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and the current defending champions Spain.
But all these hype heading in the tournament will be irrelevant if the Red Devils cannot prove to the world that they can at least compete with the biggest of names in football in the biggest stage of them all.
"With the squad we have these days, we should be able to do something," Hazard said. "In a way it's this time or never for Belgium. We have a great generation of players, but we have to do it on the pitch. We have talked enough. It's time for action. The talent is here, we know that. But we have to show that with results."
What this impressive display of young talent lack though is experience. If they can nullify their inexperience with their talent and can set their egos aside like what the Spanish national team has managed to do, there is no telling what Belgium's Golden Generation can do in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
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