SEATTLE — Belgium head into Wednesday’s World Cup round-of-32 meeting with Senegal carrying renewed confidence and a fully fit squad, but coach Rudy Garcia warned that knockout football leaves little room for complacency, regardless of pre-match expectations.
After opening the tournament with disappointing draws against Egypt and Iran, Belgium rediscovered their attacking rhythm in a commanding 5-1 victory over New Zealand that secured top spot in Group G and allowed them to remain in Seattle for the first knockout match.
Garcia confirmed every player in his squad is available for selection for the first time during the tournament. Winger Jeremy Doku has returned after missing matches following the birth of his son and a brief illness, while defender Zeno Debast has recovered from the leg injury that sidelined him throughout the group stage.
Debast, who suffered the injury while training with Portuguese club Sporting last month, may not be ready to start.
“He’s going to need some time to get back to 100% of his capacities and his potential,” Garcia told reporters Tuesday. “But it’s not going to be a problem, because ever since the start of the competition, we have shown a very strong defence.”
Belgium conceded only two goals during the group stage, allowing one each against Egypt and New Zealand.
Garcia said the squad’s depth gives Belgium significant flexibility, pointing to the impact substitutes have already made during the tournament.
“What matters is not only the starting eleven,” he said.
Romelu Lukaku demonstrated that depth in Belgium’s tournament opener, forcing an own goal by Egypt only moments after entering as a second-half substitute to salvage a 1-1 draw.
Belgium are also expected to benefit from more favorable weather conditions after Garcia criticized the extreme heat and dry playing surface during the match against Egypt, saying they disrupted his team’s passing game.
Even so, Garcia cautioned against reading too much into Belgium’s status as favorites, noting that several heavyweight nations have already been eliminated.
Germany’s penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay and the Netherlands’ loss to Morocco illustrated how quickly expectations can unravel once the knockout rounds begin.
“There are no small squads,” Garcia said. “Even if you’re a favourite on paper, which was the case for Germany, you can lose.”
Garcia expects Senegal to provide one of Belgium’s toughest tests despite the African side advancing as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams after navigating a difficult group featuring France, Norway and Iraq.
He described Senegal as “very fast,” “very strong,” technically gifted and exceptionally well organized defensively.
The match also carries personal significance for Garcia, who previously worked with Senegal coach Pape Thiaw at Saint-Etienne and remembers helping develop him during his playing career.
Thiaw is “a wonderful player, and he’s a wonderful coach as well,” Garcia said. “I’m very happy for him. But I’m going to defeat him,” he added.
