Roberto Martinez Finally Disappointed After The Belgian National Team Failed To Make It To The 2022 World Cup Big 16: I Can't Continue It

Roberto Martinez stepped down from the coach of the Belgian national team. (Photo: Twitter/@BelRedDevils)

JAKARTA - The Belgian national team is confirmed to be eliminated from the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The Red Devils failed to penetrate the round of 16 after only drawing 0-0 against Croatia in the final match of the group phase, Thursday, December 1 night.

After this failure, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez declared his resignation from office. He finally gave up fighting with Belgium.

As is known, the 49-year-old coached Belgium since 2016 and his contract expires after this tournament. Martinez is in charge of Belgium after being sacked by Premier League club Everton.

"This is my last game with the national team, I can't continue," Martinez said as quoted by Antara via AFP.

"It's time for me to declare this is the last game," he continued.

Martinez led Belgium to third place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the Euro 2020 quarter-finals last year. However, he failed miserably at the 2022 World Cup with the composition of players who had been dubbed the "golden generation" of Belgium.

However, the Spaniard denied the failure at the Qatar World Cup was the reason for ending the struggle with the Red Devils.

"That's the end, whatever will happen, whether we are world champions or we are eliminated in the group stage," Martinez said.

"This has nothing to do with being knocked out of this group stage. Since 2018 I have had many opportunities to step down to work at the club level, but I want to be loyal. I did not resign, this is the end of my contract," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic believes Martinez will have no trouble getting a new job offer. "Belgium is missing a great professional. For four consecutive years they have been in first place in FIFA. That's his project, but it's not his sudden end," he said.