​Coach Rudi Garcia said that “everyone” expects his Belgium side to bow out to Spain in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final, but he insists his team can still pull off a famous upset. Spain, European champions, arrive in Los Angeles as heavy favorites after not conceding a single goal in the tournament so far. Belgium, by contrast, have endured a tougher path, only just topping their group after drawing with Egypt and Iran and needing a late comeback to beat Senegal. Yet at a news conference on Thursday, Garcia seemed to savor being labeled the underdog and insisted his team can rise to the occasion.
“Everyone is already talking about us going home. But we think that we can do it,” the coach said. “We think we can pull it off, and we’re going to do everything we can to reach the semifinals.” Belgium’s improvement was evident in their round-of-16 demolition of the United States, a 4-1 victory that knocked the hosts out of the tournament and underlined Belgium’s potency.
Garcia highlighted Belgium’s attacking potential, noting that they rank among the tournament’s top scorers, with 13 goals, trailing only France and Argentina. He also pointed out that Belgium have fired 107 shots, second only to France, who have played a game more. When asked whether a largely American crowd in Los Angeles might be hostile after Belgium’s success against the U.S., Garcia dismissed the concern as overstated. “We just beat the U.S., obviously, and again in a stadium where everyone was against us. So I don’t think the conditions will be any more difficult tomorrow,” he replied. He added that the focus should remain on what Belgium can control, especially given the formidable Spanish squad, a team he described as “a wonderful footballing team.” Even if Belgium enter as the underdogs, he pledged to give their all to trouble Spain and force a result.
Romelu Lukaku, the team’s veteran striker, voiced a similar sentiment, telling reporters that reaching the quarter-finals signals that defeat should not be the objective. “If you manage to get this far, then you’re not going to play a game just to go home,” Lukaku asserted. “I think we also have the necessary talent. Tomorrow we need to play the perfect game.” As Belgium eye a spot in the World Cup semifinals, the balance of confidence and caution remains clear: they believe they can upset the odds, but they know that doing so will require precision, teamwork, and a meticulous game plan against a Spanish side renowned for its technical superiority.
Garcia’s cautious optimism is matched by his players’ readiness to seize the moment. The Belgium coach stressed that his team will continue to focus on execution, rather than being swayed by the noise around them. He underscored that the match will test Belgium’s resolve and tactical discipline, believing that with a strong collective effort, they can cause problems for Spain and perhaps write a new chapter in Belgian football history. The showdown in Los Angeles promises to be a clash of contrasting narratives: a Spanish juggernaut seeking to extend a flawless run, and a Belgian team hoping to conjure a memorable upset when it matters most.