Under the most astonishing circumstances, Belgium has turned out to be the champions of the European Championship 2024; as a result, they had the football world in shock, while their names have been recorded in the history of European football.

The Red Devils’ lifting of the cup is their first victory in a major international tournament, ending many years of disappointment and unfulfilled potential for the Belgian team, which is considered to be a talented football squad.

The final match was staged in the magnificent and world-famous Olympiastadion in Berlin, where Belgium played against a strong French side in a match that was surely to be historic.

The tension was so much that it could be perceived by everyone, both teams looked focused and motivated, but as a matter of fact, they felt the burden of expectation immensely. Belgium began the game in fine style, with their captain De Bruyne wreaking havoc and pressing the French high, being evident from the first minute the match kicked off.

The first goal was made by De Bruyne in the 23rd minute with a marvelous free-kick at the French goalie that didn’t allow him even to take a step. Kevin De Bruyne’s shot from the Manchester City maestro was enough to cause pandemonium among the Belgian fans since their red-clad supporters were the only ones making the color of the whole stadium shift; moreover, their noise was ear-splitting.

But France had an equally quick response, as they managed to equalize a few minutes before the end of the first half with a nice team move that finished Kylian Mbappé.

The second part of the game equalized the hosts’ battles in a breathtaking match full of attacking football. The opportunity window was switching at both ends, where the custodians Courtois and Maignan showed a force of character and miraculous saves in the battle of the goalkeepers to keep their teams in the match. Belgium managed to score a deciding goal as the clock was winding down and extra time was imminent.

On the 87th minute, Romelu Lukaku, the second-half substitute matching, jumped the highest to the pinpoint cross from Youri Tielemans. The stiff header of the goal scorer found the bottom corner, thus, it evoked jubilant celebrations not only from the fans but also from the bench of the Belgians. The end of the game was signaled a few seconds later making Belgium the winner and causing the players and fans to cheer.

The triumph is the about time of the “golden generation” of the Belgium players that have been playing together for over a decade. And according to their track record of the last few years, players including De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, and Courtois have been playing the best football in their careers. But, they were missing the football triumphs that come with the football struggles of life.

Roberto Martinez’s character against the tactics of other managers and his ability to handle players is the thing that will vindicate his tactical approach and man-management skills.

The Spanish coach, who has been leading the Belgian national team since 2016, is one of the important people who has mastered the art of working with players in the team, yet some long-time critics of his claim that the individual talent of the team has never worked together as a team. This victory not only shuts up those who were in doubt but it also puts Martinez among the stars of the Belgian football world.

The scenes after the game in Brussels were not images of joy but euphoria. Tens of thousands of fans came through the Belgian capital streets, singing songs, waving their flags, and celebrating their historic national achievement. The blink of an eye, turning the square into a red, yellow, and black sea with all the reunion of the winning fans led to the gain of the success of the game from the city square, The Grand Place, the biggest.

Belgium had quite a few obstacles on their way to the final. They met tough competition in the group stages and managed to top the group that had England, Croatia, and Switzerland in it by a small margin. In the knockout rounds, they were up against a stubborn Danish team in the round of 16 before they notched up a win against Italy’s the thrilling quarter final that went to penalties.

The semi-final against Germany was probably their most spectacular performance of the tournament. Playing in Munich against the home team, Belgium showed a counter-attacking masterclass by winning 3-1 and shutting down the partisan home crowd. With this win, they opened the way and paved the track for their final victory in Berlin.

The effect of Belgium’s 2024 Euro Championship victory is not limited to the field of sports. In a country, which often has divisions between the linguistic and the cultural groups, football has been the glue that held the people together.

A national team, which is doing well, would make the Flemish and Walloon communities come together in a time of shared celebration while building national pride and unity based on different criteria beyond the traditional ones.

The attention will turn to the future, and the Belgian team will be the center of it when they bring the Henri Delaunay Trophy back home after their victory. Since most of the players are now entering their early thirties, the question of whether this golden generation can last might be on everyone’s lips. However, for now, those concerns may rest. Belgium’s footballers and fans are both in cloud nine after their biggest sporting achievement ever.

The Euro 2024 win will for sure motivate the incoming Belgian football proteges, who are eager to rival their heroes’ fame. Young boys and girls will undoubtedly be attracted to youth academies all over the country as they will be dreaming of one day becoming a popular figure in their red jersey and representing their nation to the world.

Belgium’s landmark victory, as the dust settled on the tournament that turned a hard-to-forget event, took place to the perseverance of the team, the amazing teamwork displayed, and also when players such as long-held potential got down to business.

The Red Devils did it, they are no longer the eternal losers and can boast that they are the winners of the European Championship. This is a nation with just 11 million people, but it boasts of an extraordinary feat that everyone will store in their memory for several years to come.