Nainggolan blames Belgium's Golden Generation's failure on having too many divas

Former Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan has criticised his country's 'Golden Generation' for having 'too many divas' while regularly coming up short during international tournaments.

The 36-year-old was part of the nation's best ever squad, which has slowly dissolved after failing to make a single major final in a time when they boasted some of the world's best players.

The ex-Inter and Roma man scored a wondergoal in the Euro 2016 quarter-final against Wales, when the side was at the peak of their powers, but an even finer strike from Hal Robson-Kanu helped the underdogs on their way to a shock win.

This disappointing exit was followed by another in the World Cup two years later, this time at the hands of eventual winners France. Belgium were knocked out in the quarter-finals at Euro 2020, the group stages in the 2022 World Cup, and in the last 16 at this summer's Euros.

Now Nainggolan, who made 30 appearances for his country, has given his theory as to why a coveted first piece of silverware has eluded the Red Devils in an interview with Gurulundia.

He said: 'I think it's like Paris Saint-Germain, with all these phenomena Messi, Neymar, Mbappé.

'We had Lukaku, Hazard, De Bruyne, Courtois. When you put all these players together, there are too many protagonists, too many divas.

'They all wanted to be protagonists, to be the most important player, and that can't work.'

Nainggolan courted controversy throughout his international career with his smoking habit attracting the ire of a string of managers.

Marc Wilmots, who was in charge of Belgium during Euro 16, said that the midfielder would have to live with the consequences of his penchance for a cigarette.

'Yes, Radja smokes. It's a habit and a lot of people do it in France and Italy. I'm not going to stop him if that's what he needs.

'I am flexible when it comes to matters like this. It's his body. I'm fine with that as long as he performs on the field.

'I always make sure he has a room with a balcony, so he doesn't set off the smoke alarm. I think he would wreck his room if we banned him from smoking five or six cigarettes a day. It's his problem if he retires at 30 instead of 35.'

The exciting box-to-box midfielder's talent was undeniable but he is now in the twilight days of his career after being released by Indonesian second tier side Bhayangkara Presisi FC in July.

Nainggolan is not the only Belgian star to slam the national team in recent days, after compatriot De Bruyne 'quit' the Red Devils before embarking on an extraordinary post-match outburst after a loss to France in the international break.

The current captain, who had made clear to technical director Frank Vercauteren his desire to 'quit', said: 'It has to be better in every way. The standard is the top. If you can't handle the top, you're not good enough.

'I can accept that we are not that good. I am also the first to say that in the past.

'But other things are unacceptable. I am not going to dwell on it. I did that when I was eighteen at Racing Genk. Now I am 33 and I don't do that anymore.'