Belgium at identity junction as daunting Spain test awaits

The Red Devils entered the tournament in encouraging form, having beaten Tunisia and Croatia convincingly in friendlies as well as thrashing the United States back in March.

In the group stage, Rudi Garcia's side stuttered with two draws against Egypt and Iran before turning it on to hammer New Zealand 5-0 to top the group on goal difference with just five points.

Belgium have since snuck past Senegal before humiliating the co-hosts on their own turf, but as they prepare for their biggest clash yet with Spain, they look at a crossroads.

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Belgium's bridging generation

Belgium's golden generation never truly fulfilled its potential. Their third-placed finish at the 2018 World Cup was the best in their history, but looking back at the sheer talent they possessed in their ranks, it could have been so much more.

That squad contained Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen as well as Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, who have all been involved in North America.

This tournament has seen a combination of the old guard and some less familiar faces, but these are by no means young, upcoming players with potential.

Charles De Ketelaere, 25, has led the line for Garcia's side, and while he did bag two goals against the United States, he has looked unconvincing across the tournament, with Lukaku regularly coming on to save the day.

Indeed, it was the Napoli man who was called upon to rescue his country against Senegal, spearheading a revival that led to the unlikeliest of comebacks.

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Then there is the man of the moment, Youri Tielemans, also part of that golden generation, who has been the lynchpin in Garcia's side.

Their biggest talent, Jeremy Doku, has been cast to the bench while the backline containing Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele and Maxime De Cuyper have struggled in front of a shaky Courtois.

Players like Leandro Trossard, Amadou Onana, Tielemans and Doku are bridging the gap, but this feels like a team that is in a gradual decline.

Spain should be too strong for Rudi Garcia's men

Spurred on by Donald Trump's intervention to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card, Belgium produced their most convincing display against the United States in a statement 4-1 victory.

However, a meeting with European champions Spain in the quarter-finals will be their truest test, and if they can advance against the tournament's best defence, then it will be one of their greatest-ever victories.

La Roja are unbeaten in 35 (the longest unbeaten streak of any team at the World Cup) and are yet to concede a goal in the tournament, keeping five clean sheets. While their performances have been mixed, they are certainly remain among the favourites to lift the trophy.

How Garcia fields his side will be intriguing, as Belgium have been wobbly at the back, and Luis De la Fuente possesses a glut of attacking talent at his disposal.

Lamine Yamal is yet to light up the tournament, but his underlying data suggests that it is just a matter of time before he takes flight, and the Red Devils could be the perfect opponent for him to do so.

With Onana out injured with a ruptured ACL, Belgium are going to need something special to advance to the semi-finals, and this feels like a step too far for the bridging generation.

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