Belgians lick the wounds: ‘The shame and sadness about the failed European Championship is deep’ | Euro 2020

By Dennis van Bergen

The photos at Charleroi airport tell the story of the Belgian chagrin. The night from Friday to Saturday is when a tuft of fans of De Rode Devils has come out for the team that had been eliminated by Italy a few hours before at the European Championship (2-1). It seems to be a show of loyalty from the grassroots, despite the fairly early elimination from the tournament. But there is no response from the players. Embittered, they rush home, leaving the supporters behind in astonishment. “The shame and sadness about the failed European Championship is deep,” says Jan Ceulemans, one of the best Belgian football players ever. “Whether it’s the players, the trainers or the supporters: everyone is feeling the disappointment.”