From euphoria to concentration
The Belgian team left the celebrations and controversies behind after beating the United States 4-1. Now, the Red Devils focus all their attention on Spain, their rival in the World Cup quarterfinals.
The team trained in Los Angeles with renewed confidence. After coming back against Senegal and dominating the hosts, Belgium faces its most demanding test: a Spain that has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
“We gained a lot of confidence. We knew it would be a difficult match against the United States, but we performed well in defense and attack,” declared goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
No distractions
The controversies of the previous game were left behind. The dance that several players performed, associated with President Donald Trump, generated comments, but the team assures that it only celebrated the victory.
“There are different ways to celebrate. We only celebrate the victory,” explained full-back Diego Moreira.
Courtois clarified that he was not present in the locker room during the celebrations because he was undergoing anti-doping control.
Change of headquarters and focus
Belgium moved its training session from Wednesday after considering that the assigned fields did not meet standards. The Royal Belgian Football Association issued a statement on the matter.
Looking ahead to Friday’s match at SoFi Stadium, the Belgians assume the role of underdogs. Courtois recalled the victory against Brazil in Russia 2018 as a precedent.
“They were favorites, but now we are a great team. The match against Senegal showed our ability to believe until the end,” he said.
Belgium trusts in its collective game to challenge a Spain that is unstoppable.
