Belgium's coach, Rudi Garcia, addressed Jeremy Doku's emotional response following their draw with Kazakhstan. Despite the setback, Garcia emphasised the team's unity as they prepare to face Liechtenstein.
Belgium remains at the top of their group, two points ahead of North Macedonia and Wales, thanks to Hans Vanaken's equaliser. However, they missed the chance to secure an automatic World Cup spot early.
Liechtenstein sits at the bottom of the group without any points or goals in qualifying matches. The Opta supercomputer gives Belgium a 96.8% chance of winning against them, making an upset unlikely. After the Kazakhstan match, Doku expressed that both players and coaches needed improvement and suggested that their opponents were not analysed correctly.
Garcia will be absent from the touchline on Tuesday due to a suspension but remains unfazed by Doku's remarks after the disappointing result. "Oh, you know you have to be careful with emotional reactions in the disappointment that we didn't win," he commented on Doku's statements. He stressed that what matters is performing well on the field.
Garcia highlighted that everyone involved with the team is focused and motivated to secure qualification. "The federation leaders, the players or the staff are all very motivated and quite serene to close it [qualification]," he stated. The coach downplayed Doku's comments, emphasising unity over individual opinions.
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Garcia acknowledged that post-match emotions can cloud judgment but insisted that unity is crucial for success. "It's [Doku being right] not so important. What counts is to be united," he reiterated. He believes securing a World Cup ticket after Tuesday's game is paramount despite any fatigue or inaccuracies in analysis.
Addressing Criticism and Looking Forward
When asked about potential improvements for Belgium ahead of the World Cup, Garcia dismissed negative discussions around his squad. "Oh well, everyone does their job," he remarked, acknowledging criticism as part of his role but choosing not to dwell on it until qualification is secured.
Garcia expressed confidence in his players and their ability to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. "I always stand behind my players," he affirmed. He believes critics do not support Belgium genuinely and maintains faith in his team's capabilities to achieve their goal of reaching the World Cup in 2026.
The focus remains on securing qualification against Liechtenstein as Belgium aims for a place in the upcoming World Cup tournament in 2026.
