Monday evening’s European Championships final 16 defeat by France was Jan Vertonghen’s last ever game for his country. On Friday the man that holds the record for the greatest number of international matches played for Belgium’s national football team, the Red Devils, announced that he was calling it a day.
The former Tottenham Hotspur defender, who is currently with the Belgian First Division RSC Anderlecht, played no fewer than 157 times for his country. He made his international debut more than 17 years ago in June 2007 in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Portugal. He soon became a stalwart of the Belgian national team and has played for Belgium at total of 6 international tournaments (three World Cups and three European Championships).
Now aged 37, Jan Vertonghen played his last ever game for Belgium on Monday in Düsseldorf. The 1-0 defeat at the hands of France not only spelled the end of Belgium’s hopes of winning this year’s European Championships, but also the end of an era. In what was a sad twist, it was Jan Vertonghen’s own goal that gave the French victory.
Jan Vertonghen’s retirement from international football brings with it the departure of yet another member of the “Golden Generation” from the national team. It is as yet unclear whether Jan Vertonghen will continue to play club football next season.