Belgian Football: Beyond the Result, the Red Devils Spirit is Back (Like It Never Left)

Let’s be honest. Over the last few years – and I’m specifically talking about that dismal World Cup in Qatar – it was all a bit… well, it took some getting used to. The magic seemed to have vanished. You’d see the shirts, those smart Belgian football / national team shirts with the proud flag, but the feeling underneath felt a bit lifeless at times. We were always playing catch-up. That Qatar 2022 World Cup hangover had really set in within the Red Devils camp, you could see it. Not just on the pitch, but in the stands too. The flags were still there, but the fire? It had died down to a smoulder.

But then you get a night like the one in Atlanta. And suddenly, as if you’ve put on those old, familiar Belgian Football Supporter Party Glasses, you see the bigger picture. A 4-1 win against the United States. Yes, it’s a friendly. Yes, you could say it was “only” the USA. But let me tell you: the way we approached that game wasn’t just any match. It was a statement. I was sat on the sofa, with my trusty Belgian Football Car Bonnet Cover in the garage, and I could feel the excitement coming right through the telly.

The opening stages were a bit scrappy, everyone saw that. But what happened next was exactly what we hadn’t seen for two years. Fighting back. Not those forced, panicky counters, but a cool-headed, almost arrogant style of counter-attacking. The equaliser just before half-time was crucial. It was like someone had flicked a switch.

And then the second half, the release. Lukebakio coming off the bench to add another – it was the perfect end to an evening where we finally saw what Belgian football is all about again: enjoyment, pace, and that touch of swagger that made us so great in the first place. We took a moment to analyse the State of football, and I can tell you: the balance has tipped back in our favour.

• The spirit: The fear has gone. You saw young lads coming on thinking: I’m going to win this.
• The fans: The atmosphere in the stadium was different too. That typical Belgian down-to-earth attitude, but now with a smile.
• The image: You notice it in everything. Those Belgian football / national team shirts with the football and the Belgian flag you see on the streets, they’re being worn with pride again – not out of a sense of duty, but out of conviction.

I’ve still got an old Red Devils Qatar 2022 World Cup Hangover T-Shirt Men's Unisex lying in my cupboard. For a long time, it was a kind of relic of a missed opportunity. But now? Now it’s just a reminder of a lesson we’ve learned. We’ve been through the hangover, the headache is gone. The team we saw yesterday wasn’t a side that was still recovering. It was a team that wanted to push forward.

So, when I look to the future, I think: let’s get those Belgian Football Supporter Party Glasses out of the cupboard again. Dust off that Belgian Football Car Bonnet Cover for the car. The State of football in Belgium? It’s not just solid, it’s buzzing. We can be proud again, not just of the result, but of the way we achieved it. And that, my friends, feels a damn sight better than any win in a friendly. This is the foundation. And we’ll build on it from here.