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Belgium coach Rudi Garcia laments skepticism ahead of World Cup quarter-final against Spain
via SeneNews5 min read
Rudi Garcia, the coach of Belgium, expressed frustration over the prevailing skepticism surrounding his team ahead of their World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain in Los Angeles. Despite the criticism, Garcia affirmed that his team possesses strengths and is determined to prove its worth on the field. He acknowledged Spain as one of the tournament favorites, highlighting their collective strength over two decades and their current defensive solidity, having not conceded a goal. Garcia, a 62-year-old French coach, stated that statistics are meant to be challenged. He emphasized Belgium's attacking prowess, noting they are the second-highest scoring team in the World Cup with 13 goals, and vowed that his team would strive to score and not merely endure the match. Garcia confirmed that all players are available, except for Amadou Onana, who sustained a serious knee injury in the round of 16 against the United States. He also mentioned the unique situation of defender Zeno Debast, who is medically cleared by the national team staff but whose club, Sporting Portugal, is reportedly preventing him from playing. Garcia praised the quality of his bench players, who demonstrated their ability to turn a game around in the 3-2 victory against Senegal in the round of 16. He has used 18 different players as starters since the beginning of the tournament, making his team unpredictable. Garcia added that the team aims to show they deserve to be in the quarter-finals and can advance
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Belgium's captain Youri Tielemans has been ruled out of the World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain in Los Angeles. Tielemans, who was initially announced as a starter, will be replaced by Hans Vanaken in midfield. The FIFA match sheet listed Tielemans as "injured" just minutes before the noon local time 19:00 GMT kickoff. Meanwhile, Spain's Fabian Ruiz, a midfielder for Paris SG, will return to the starting lineup for the Roja.
Must ReadBrazilian star forward Vinicius Junior apologized to Brazilian supporters for the "immense frustration" caused by the team's elimination in the World Cup round of 16. He promised to "fight" to bring the Seleção "back to the top." The five-time world champions, seeking a sixth title since 2002, were eliminated by Norway 2-1 in East Rutherford. Vinicius Junior stated on Instagram, "I know how much I prepared, how much I focused, I wanted" the World Cup trophy "for you, for my family," describing the "immense" feeling of frustration. He added, "We had a strong enough squad to do better but we didn't succeed. I apologize and I will fight for our dream to return to the top of the world." Despite the team's disappointment, the 25-year-old forward scored four goals and provided one assist during the tournament. His message was accompanied by a black and white photo of him collapsed on the field after the defeat to Norway at MetLife Stadium. Brazil's performance marked their worst in a World Cup since 1990 in Italy, when they were eliminated at the same stage. The Seleção last won a World Cup title in 2002 in South Korea and Japan. Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, whose contract was extended until 2030 before the World Cup, was confirmed in his position despite strong criticism from some former Brazilian football legends, including Romario, who called for his resignation.
Following the Senegal national team's elimination in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup against Belgium, discussions are underway regarding the future of the team. Some Senegalese football officials are reportedly considering Patrick Vieira to take over from Pape Thiaw as coach. The Senegalese Football Federation is holding an emergency executive committee meeting this Saturday in Dakar to review the team's World Cup performance, which was marked by an early exit despite a strong showing against Belgium. The meeting will also address concerns about the team's preparation and management, with observers pointing to internal issues that may have weakened the team. The future of current coach Pape Thiaw is a key topic, as his claim of a contract extension during the competition is reportedly not universally accepted internally. His continued leadership is expected to be debated, with some officials looking for a new direction. Patrick Vieira, who has been without a club since leaving Genoa in November 2025, is frequently mentioned as a potential successor. Born in Dakar, the former French international has strong ties to Senegal and is involved in youth development through Diambars, a renowned training center. His high-level experience, including captaining the French national team and coaching European clubs, is seen by supporters as a significant asset that could revitalize the team after a disappointing World Cup campaign.