Former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has hit out at the critics that have been calling for the head of Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez. The Belgian Red Devils’ boss came under heavy criticism after his side were knocked out of the Euros 2020 following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Italy – the eventual winners of the competition.
The former Belgium international defender said that it is cruel and u just to want Martinez to be sacked because of the team’s loss to Italy. He said that there were other troubling cases like the one that saw France one of the competition’s favorites get knocked out by Switzerland. Vermaelen also added that even countries like Germany did not make it as far as everyone had hoped, while also stressing that even Spain could not defeat Italy.
According to the former defender, it was not Martinez’s fault that Belgium got knocked out and that Italy just proved to be the better side and that’s all it takes to win a game of football on most occasions. He also went further to stress that the country’s football federation made a bold step and the right decision after it released an official statement announcing that Martinez would still be in charge of the team, especially as they prepare for next year’s World Cup tournament in Qatar.
Martinez will now be looking to repay the faith that has been entrusted to him and would be looking to guide his players to have a better tournament next year.