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Arab News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Arab News
De Bruyne secures Belgium win over Wales in seven-goal thriller
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne spared Belgium's blushes after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Wales 4-3 and kickstart the Red Devils' 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Belgium Coach Shows Faith in Shaky Defense
Belgium's defense came in for criticism after giving away a late equalizer to North Macedonia in their World Cup qualifier on Friday but coach Rudi Garcia said he had to show faith in them ahead of their next clash against Wales on Monday. Belgian media and commentators said the team were fortunate to come away with a point from their opening Group J fixture, even though they led for most of the game in Skopje. Hosts North Macedonia twice struck the woodwork and had a strike ruled out by VAR before grabbing an 86th-minute goal to draw 1-1. Garcia, in only his third match in charge, said he wanted to show trust in his defenders for the clash against Wales in Brussels. 'It's a matter of trust. Our defenders need that. I don't want to point fingers at them because we also have to be able to bring more offensively. We have the qualities for that,' he told reporters. Garcia said he did not feel he needed to adjust his defense, which in March conceded three goals to Ukraine in the Nations League promotion-relegation playoff. 'That's not necessary. Like I said it's a matter of trust for our defense. You can't solve that by adjusting the system.' Belgium are heavily fancied to take the automatic qualification berth for the group winners but Wales have taken the early lead in the group with seven points from their opening three matches. Garcia said there were several reasons for Belgium's mediocre showing in Skopje. 'The heat was one of them. But when you're 1-0 up, you can't give it up. It didn't go well. We made the wrong decision far too often with the last pass.' There were also questions about Garcia's changes, after he took out captain Thomas Meunier and talisman Kevin De Bruyne early in the second half. 'It's also a physical issue. And there's also quality on the bench. I substituted Meunier because he already had a yellow card and I need him on Monday against Wales because I only have one right back. 'As for De Bruyne, I also thought about Monday's match. Playing 90 minutes twice in three days is a lot at this stage of the competition. Incidentally, I thought that we regained control after the substitutions due to our physical superiority,' Garcia added.
CNA
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Belgium coach shows faith in shaky defence
SKOPJE :Belgium's defence came in for criticism after giving away a late equaliser to North Macedonia in their World Cup qualifier on Friday but coach Rudi Garcia said he had to show faith in them ahead of their next clash against Wales on Monday. Belgian media and commentators said the team were fortunate to come away with a point from their opening Group J fixture, even though they led for most of the game in Skopje. Hosts North Macedonia twice struck the woodwork and had a strike ruled out by VAR before grabbing an 86th-minute goal to draw 1-1. Garcia, in only his third match in charge, said he wanted to show trust in his defenders for the clash against Wales in Brussels. 'It's a matter of trust. Our defenders need that. I don't want to point fingers at them because we also have to be able to bring more offensively. We have the qualities for that,' he told reporters. Garcia said he did not feel he needed to adjust his defence, which in March conceded three goals to Ukraine in the Nations League promotion-relegation playoff. 'That's not necessary. Like I said it's a matter of trust for our defence. You can't solve that by adjusting the system.' Belgium are heavily fancied to take the automatic qualification berth for the group winners but Wales have taken the early lead in the group with seven points from their opening three matches. Garcia said there were several reasons for Belgium's mediocre showing in Skopje. 'The heat was one of them. But when you're 1-0 up, you can't give it up. It didn't go well. We made the wrong decision far too often with the last pass.' There were also questions about Garcia's changes, after he took out captain Thomas Meunier and talisman Kevin De Bruyne early in the second half. 'It's also a physical issue. And there's also quality on the bench. I substituted Meunier because he already had a yellow card and I need him on Monday against Wales because I only have one right back. 'As for De Bruyne, I also thought about Monday's match. Playing 90 minutes twice in three days is a lot at this stage of the competition. Incidentally, I thought that we regained control after the substitutions due to our physical superiority,' Garcia added.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Belgium coach shows faith in shaky defence
SKOPJE, June 7 (Reuters) - Belgium's defence came in for criticism after giving away a late equaliser to North Macedonia in their World Cup qualifier on Friday but coach Rudi Garcia said he had to show faith in them ahead of their next clash against Wales on Monday. Belgian media and commentators said the team were fortunate to come away with a point from their opening Group J fixture, even though they led for most of the game in Skopje. Hosts North Macedonia twice struck the woodwork and had a strike ruled out by VAR before grabbing an 86th-minute goal to draw 1-1. Garcia, in only his third match in charge, said he wanted to show trust in his defenders for the clash against Wales in Brussels. 'It's a matter of trust. Our defenders need that. I don't want to point fingers at them because we also have to be able to bring more offensively. We have the qualities for that,' he told reporters. Garcia said he did not feel he needed to adjust his defence, which in March conceded three goals to Ukraine in the Nations League promotion-relegation playoff. 'That's not necessary. Like I said it's a matter of trust for our defence. You can't solve that by adjusting the system.' Belgium are heavily fancied to take the automatic qualification berth for the group winners but Wales have taken the early lead in the group with seven points from their opening three matches. Garcia said there were several reasons for Belgium's mediocre showing in Skopje. 'The heat was one of them. But when you're 1-0 up, you can't give it up. It didn't go well. We made the wrong decision far too often with the last pass.' There were also questions about Garcia's changes, after he took out captain Thomas Meunier and talisman Kevin De Bruyne early in the second half. 'It's also a physical issue. And there's also quality on the bench. I substituted Meunier because he already had a yellow card and I need him on Monday against Wales because I only have one right back. 'As for De Bruyne, I also thought about Monday's match. Playing 90 minutes twice in three days is a lot at this stage of the competition. Incidentally, I thought that we regained control after the substitutions due to our physical superiority,' Garcia added.
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Belgium call up former Portuguese youth international
BRUSSELS, May 20 (Reuters) - Belgium have called up uncapped left back Diego Moreira to their squad for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign next month, one day after FIFA approved a switch of nationality for the 20-year-old. Moreira was born in Belgium and played at under-15 level for them, but after that chose to compete for Portugal, featuring in March for their under-21 side in a 4-2 loss to England at The Hawthorns. He has been persuaded to switch his allegiance by Belgium's new coach Rudi Garcia, who on Tuesday named a 26-man squad for Group J qualifiers against North Macedonia in Skopje on June 6 and Wales in Brussels on July 9. 'He is a young but professional player who wants to commit himself to a sporting project. He has had an excellent season. So this is a signal for all young players who are doing well,' Garcia told a press conference on Tuesday. Kevin De Bruyne will continue as captain despite his departure from Manchester City at the end of the season. 'I have full confidence in De Bruyne and the choice he will make for his future. He had ten tremendous seasons at Manchester City,' Garcia added. 'He can be proud of what he has achieved. Kevin is one of the best footballers ever and is the conductor of the Red Devils.' Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana returns from injury, but recent ankle surgery keeps Fulham full back Timothy Castagne out. Squad: Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Antwerp), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Maarten Vandevoort (RB Leipzig) Defenders: Zeno Debast (Sporting Lisbon), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Koni De Winter (Genoa), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Diego Moreira (Strasbourg), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt) Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Jorthy Mokio (Ajax Amsterdam), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Alexis Saelemaekers (AS Roma), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge) Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Malick Fofana (Olympique Lyonnais), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).
