Belgium national team head coach Rudi Garcia and striker Romelu Lukaku addressed the press Friday ahead of their World Cup quarter-final match against Spain [1].
As an underdog in the matchup, Belgium's ability to upset Spain would signal a shift in the tournament's power dynamics and secure a spot in the final four. Garcia said the team has belief and attacking capabilities [2].
The match takes place on July 10, 2026 [3], marking the quarter-final stage of the tournament where only eight teams remain [4]. Garcia said that the Belgian squad intends to make Spain work for a victory, positioning his team as a formidable opponent despite the underdog label [2].
Striker Romelu Lukaku also participated in the media session. Lukaku's presence remains a central part of Belgium's offensive strategy. In the opening match of the tournament, Lukaku made an impact within 22 seconds [5] and later scored in the 66th minute [6].
While there were previous reports that Lukaku might not be an immediate starter for the tournament, his contributions in the early stages have been pivotal to Belgium's progression [7]. The team now faces one of the tournament favorites in a bid to reach the semi-finals.
Garcia and his players are focusing on maintaining their momentum from the earlier rounds to challenge Spain's defensive structure. The coach said the team is prepared for the high-stakes nature of the quarter-final venue [1].
“Belgium's ability to upset Spain would signal a shift in the tournament's power dynamics.”
Belgium's positioning as an underdog in the quarter-finals creates a psychological advantage, allowing them to play with less pressure than Spain. The integration of Romelu Lukaku as a primary attacking threat, regardless of his starting status, remains the core of Belgium's strategy to penetrate Spain's defense.
