This is the generation that was supposed to finally do it. Kevin De Bruyne at 34, now at Napoli after leaving Manchester City, arrives at what will almost certainly be his final World Cup carrying the hope of a nation that has watched his generation — Hazard, Kompany, Witsel, De Bruyne, Courtois, Lukaku — fall short for fifteen years. They reached the 2018 semifinal. They've gone home disappointingly in every tournament since. The Golden Generation is old now. Tonight, in Seattle, under the lights, this chapter either begins to close honourably or opens one last time.
Mohamed Salah leads Egypt into their first World Cup match with Liverpool's most decorated individual of recent years at the head of it. Omar Marmoush (Manchester City) provides a second forward of genuine Premier League quality alongside him. Egypt's squad has grown significantly in European quality over the past four years and they are genuinely capable of threatening Belgium. This is not a foregone conclusion. The Galáctico emphasises this strongly from the couch.
De Bruyne as a number ten — deeper, reading the game rather than running, distributing with the precision that defines his career. Courtois in goal provides world-class shot-stopping. The midfield depth has improved. The question is Lukaku: can a player who has barely played find match sharpness in the most pressurised environment in football? Garcia believed in him enough to select him. Whether that belief is rewarded is the biggest subplot of Belgium's tournament.
Egypt have waited 36 years for another World Cup. Salah, 33, is playing his best football — Liverpool won the league, he won the Golden Boot, and he arrives in peak condition. Marmoush's Premier League experience adds a second forward with genuine tournament-quality finishing. Egypt will not simply sit back against Belgium. They'll press, look to win the ball in midfield, and back Salah to produce the moment that justifies the wait.
De Bruyne scores or assists the opener before the hour mark — this is what he does in the big moments that define careers. Belgium add a second from open play. Salah scores in the final twenty minutes from a position that makes it look easy, because it always looks easy when he does it. Belgium hold on. De Bruyne embraces the captain's armband and stares at the sky for a moment. The Galáctico feels things he does not usually feel from the couch.
Kevin De Bruyne at His Last World Cup Is the Most Emotionally Loaded Storyline of the Entire Tournament and Everyone Knows It. The greatest player of his generation who never won the thing that defines generations. Tonight is the first step in the final attempt. The Galáctico is watching. He has been watching since the beginning. He is a little emotional about this, from the couch, and he will not be apologising for it.
Romelu Lukaku Playing in a World Cup Having Barely Played This Season Is Either the Most Inspired Selection of the Tournament or the Most Catastrophic Gamble. 89 international goals. Muscle injuries. One hour of football since January. Rudi Garcia said yes. The Galáctico gives it 55/45 in favour of inspired. That is not a comfortable margin. The couch is aware.
Salah Will Produce the Goal That Defines Egypt's Tournament Tonight Even in a Losing Cause. He does this. He always does this. He scored at the 2018 World Cup from the penalty spot despite a shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final three weeks earlier. Context does not stop Salah. Nothing stops Salah. The couch respects this enormously.