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Kevin de Bruyne raised alarm bells for Belgium even before the World Cup, one which hasn't started well at all for the team that came third last time.
At Al Thumama on Sunday, the Red Devils went down to hell against Morocco, losing 2-0.
"I think our chance was 2018, we have a good team, but it is ageing," the Manchester City playmaker confessed to The Guardian ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
"We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018. I see us more as outsiders."
Roberto Martinez's side are certainly far from at their best in Qatar and the critics are now focusing on Belgium's golden generation, led by 31-year-old De Bruyne.
Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel and Dries Mertens are all aged 33 or over, and Eden Hazard (31), Thibaut Courtois (30) and Romelu Lukaku (29) aren't getting any younger either.
Two poor performances from Belgium
The 1-0 win over Canada in the opening matchday cushioned yesterday's disaster and gives Belgium a chance at the knockouts going into the final matchday, but they weren't good in that game either.
Canada deserved better than their 1-0 defeat, while the Atlas Lions were unforgiving and may have brought about the end of what until now many saw as the best generation in the history of Belgian football.
Although this group reached the semi-finals of Russia 2018, the feeling is that they have fallen short.
Self-criticism from the Red Devils
The diagnosis is clear from Roberto Martinez and others close to the team.
"I do think it's because we played with a fear of losing," Martinez said.
"They work so hard for each other off the ball but then on the ball I don't see that enjoyment.
"We are a team that is usually playing on the attack. We're not playing with joy right now. It's maybe the weight on our shoulders.
"In the last game we have to play to win it and as if we have nothing to lose.
"If we win against Croatia we're still in the World Cup and that's a big motivation."
Can Belgium still qualify?
They went from being one win away from the last 16 to having to beat the 2018 World Cup runners-up on the last matchday.
As if that's not enough, they play a reinvigorated Croatia who hammered Canada 4-1. Winning is the most direct way to qualify.
If not, it would be a matter of goals, cards and relying on other results. Canada, whom they overcame in the midst of controversial refereeing in the first match, could be an unexpected ally.
The decline of Belgium's golden generation could be traumatic. In two European Championships and two World Cups in a row, they have reached, at least, the quarter-finals. They are now approaching the abyss.