Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has admitted that expectations are firmly against his side ahead of their crucial World Cup quarter-final showdown with Spain, but insists his team is ready to defy the odds.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s encounter in Los Angeles, Garcia acknowledged that many have already written off Belgium’s chances against the European champions, who have been dominant throughout the tournament without conceding a single goal.
“Everyone is already talking about us going home,” Garcia said. “But we believe we can do it. We’ll give everything to reach the semi-finals.”
Spain enter the fixture as clear favourites, having displayed defensive solidity and tactical discipline across all their matches.
Belgium, on the other hand, have had a more turbulent journey—finishing top of their group narrowly after draws with Egypt and Iran, before staging a late comeback to overcome Senegal.
However, the Red Devils found top form in the Round of 16, delivering an emphatic 4–1 victory over the United States. Garcia highlighted his team’s attacking strength, noting that Belgium are among the tournament’s highest scorers with 13 goals, trailing only France and Argentina.
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Their shot count of 107 is also second only to France.
Despite the possibility of a hostile crowd in Los Angeles following their victory over the host nation, Garcia dismissed any concerns.
“It’s not the fans that score goals,” he stated. “Our focus is on the game. Spain are a fantastic team, but we’ll make it difficult for them.”
Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku echoed his coach’s confidence, stressing that Belgium are not in the competition merely to participate.
“If you’ve made it this far, you’re not here just to go home,” Lukaku said. “We have the talent, but we’ll need to play a perfect game.”
With both sides eyeing a place in the semi-finals, the clash promises to be a defining moment in Belgium’s campaign as they attempt to upset one of the tournament’s strongest contenders.
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