Qatar 2022: German aristocracy at stake, Messi stays in the hunt 

The group stage exit of Germany from two consecutive World Cups has certainly dealt a bodyblow to the reputation of the football aristocrats. While Brazil may be the winner of highest number of titles with five, Germany’s consistency in the football showpiece had always been a subject of much envy.

Just ponder this: not only did they win the crown four times (the last one coming as recently as in 2014), they were the runners-up on another four occasions – which makes them eight-time finalists out of 21 editions. They were also third place finishers thrice – which makes their failure to make it to the knockout stages in back-to-back editions.

As the jigsaws were falling into place for last 16 in Qatar 2022 this week, one thought that sanity was eventually returning to the competition after the early topsy turvy results. Well almost, till on Thursday night when Japan’s controversial win over Spain knocked the sails out of Hansi Flick’s team despite their 4-2 win over no-hopers Costa Rica in the final group game.

No less shattering were the failure of Belgium’s so-called golden generation to do justice to their pre-tournament billing – ending with a first round exit as they simply forgot the route to the goal in their must-win games against Croatia. The likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois – who finished third in Russia 2018 – lent a gravitas to the team four years back as expectations mounted if the World Cup could eventually have a new champion.

Going into the tournament as world No.1 ranked team, the Belgians brought down eternal favourites Brazil in the quarter finals before losing to Croatia, the eventual runners-up, in the semi-finals. It was, however, a much different story this time as an upset 2-0 win against Morocco – an youthful side with remarkable flair – shattered their confidence beyond repair.

Lukaku, the predator, could have actually finished with a hat-trick against Croatia but looked a bundle of nerves. The striker, incidentally, came into the tournament with a question mark over his fitness as he was down with an injury in October and coach Roberto Martinez had apparently taken a huge gamble in naming him in his 26-man squad. Hazard, their inspirational captain, had not been the same player as he had come to Qatar with just 41 minutes of game time for Real Madrid behind him since September.

What, however, is disconcerting is whether all had been well at the Belgian camp. Hazard, in fact, caused a bust-up in the dressing room when he felt that their two central defenders – Toby Alderweireld (33) and Jan Vertonghen (35) — have slowed down with age. Even De Bruyne had gone on record to say that their team may be stacked with older players.

This setback will certainly call for introspection. Martinez, whose best phase with this batch is certainly over, set the tone by resigning soon after the Croatia match. In four years, Hazard and De Bruyne will be 35, Lukaku will be 33 and Courtois 34 and hence, don’t be surprised if there are few international retirements from their camp in the coming days.

As the last 16 takes shape, the legion of Messi and Ronaldo fans would have heaved a sigh of relief that two of the game’s biggest icons have lived to fight another day. Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, in particular, will be a happy man at the execution of their plans against Poland though one doubts if his captain will be allowed so much of leeway by technically more astute teams.

 As the last 16 takes shape, the legion of Messi and Ronaldo fans would have heaved a sigh of relief that two of the game’s biggest icons have lived to fight another day. Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, in particular, will be a happy man at the execution of their plans against Poland though one doubts if his captain will be allowed so much of leeway by technically more astute teams.

 If there is something that the first two weeks in Qatar have shown, it’s that the gap is narrowing between the top bracket and second rung teams. Asian teams, barring hosts Qatar who may have looked out of depth, have risen to the occasion with Japan showing the way – and I will certainly take that!