​Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens made his World Cup bow in the quarter-final against Spain at the Los Angeles stadium on Friday, July 11. The Belgian found the afternoon difficult, and the outcome did not unfold as hoped for him or his nation. United had been in the market for a new stopper last summer and opted to back the relatively untested Lammens. That gamble has, so far, appeared astute: the 24-year-old has cemented the number one spot at club level and even collected the Premier League Signing of the Season award.
Source: Transfermarkt. Lammens’ form earned him a place in the Belgium squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he acted as the understudy to Thibaut Courtois. After watching the opening five games from the bench, he was thrust into action in the 71st minute following an injury to Courtois against Spain. A costly error soon followed, as the scoreline stood at 1-1 and Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsi’s long-range effort, allowing Mikel Merino to pounce on the rebound and send Spain into the semi-finals.
The United keeper was visibly distraught at the final whistle and received reassurance from Courtois, who urged him to bounce back. The Belgian media, however, offered a harsher verdict. Le Soir directly blamed Lammens for his country’s exit, saying: “Senne Lammens simply cannot make a mistake like that on the second goal. He has to hold onto that ball every time. It is a massive blunder by the Manchester United goalkeeper, one that sends us packing. I’m gutted to go home because of a goal like that. I would have preferred a 3–0 thrashing. Lammens cost us the match.” The piece argued that without the error, Belgium might have progressed and left open the question of what could have happened in extra time. It stressed that, at World Cup quarter-final level, such a mistake is inexcusably costly, and while the squad would stand by him, there was no room for excuses.
The report also suggested that lapses in concentration have appeared at times previously during Lammens’ stint with Royal Antwerp. It claimed: “Even back at Royal Antwerp, I didn’t always find him reliable. He was prone to occasional lapses in concentration.” Since joining Manchester United, the piece claimed, his goal concession rate has climbed, averaging 1.5 goals per game. The article added that if Courtois were to retire from international duty, Lammens would be the leading candidate to step in, though he would need to eradicate such errors.
Another Belgian outlet, Sporza, offered a more sympathetic take on Lammens, recognizing the weight of the mistake while acknowledging his broader potential. The report noted: “Players, family members and fans in LA were inconsolable after that painful 2-1 defeat to Spain, following a blunder by Senne Lammens. Painful for that boy. He will have a long and promising journey ahead, with better days in store.” The coverage reflected a mixed but ultimately hopeful attitude toward Lammens’ development, underscoring a belief that he could learn from the misstep and return stronger in future competitions.