Belgium coach Rudi Garcia has embraced his side’s underdog status ahead of Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against Spain in Los Angeles, insisting his players believe they can pull off a famous victory despite widespread expectation that European champions Spain will progress.
“Everyone is already talking about us going home. But we think that we can do it,” Garcia told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. “We think we can pull it off, and we’re going to do everything we can to get to the semis.”
Spain arrive as strong favourites, having gone the entire tournament without conceding a goal, while Belgium have had a more testing path to the last eight, managing only draws against Egypt and Iran in the group stage before requiring a late comeback to beat Senegal. They found their feet emphatically in the round of 16, however, thrashing co-hosts United States 4-1 to announce themselves as genuine contenders.
Garcia pointed to Belgium’s attacking output as evidence that his side should not be written off. With 13 goals, they are the tournament’s third highest scorers behind only France and Argentina, while their 107 shots rank second only to France, who have played one more match. “We’ve got enough on our plate with the Spanish squad that is a wonderful footballing team,” he said. “And even if we’re the underdog for tomorrow, we’re going to do everything we can to give them a run for their money.”
Asked whether a predominantly American crowd in Los Angeles could prove hostile following Belgium’s elimination of the co-hosts, Garcia was dismissive. “We just beat the US, obviously, and again at a stadium where everyone was against us. So I don’t think the conditions will be any more difficult tomorrow. It’s not the fans that score the goals,” he said.
Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku struck a similarly defiant tone. “If you manage to get this far, then you’re not going to play a game just to go home. I think we also have the necessary talent. Tomorrow we need to play the perfect game,” he said.
