12 July,2026 08:49 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANS
Belgium players after their loss to Spain on Saturday. PIC/AFP
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia rued his side's misfortune after their FIFA World Cup campaign ended with a heartbreaking 1-2 quarter-final defeat to Spain, saying "the stars weren't aligned" for them on a night when they lost their goalkeeper and captain in the middle of the match due to injuries.
Belgium were closing in on extra time before substitute Mikel Merino struck in the 88th minute to send Spain into their first World Cup semi-final since 2010.
"Unfortunately, the stars weren't aligned for us this evening. We lost our goalkeeper. We lost our captain. We had to change a sub out given to [Kevin] De Bruyne, and that wasn't part of the game plan at the end of the game," Garcia said after the defeat as quoted by ESPN.
Rudi Garcia
Despite the defeat, Garcia praised his players for pushing Spain until the closing minutes and said Belgium had nothing to feel humiliated about. "We can be proud of our World Cup campaign. We learn through defeat," Garcia said.
"I don't think that we've got anything to feel humiliated about. I think that we were able to really give the Spanish squad a run for their money," he added.
Thibaut Courtois backed Belgium substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens after the latter's later blunder gifted Spain a 2-1 victory in the quarter-final. Courtois exited the game in the 71st minute after complaining of a muscular problem. "He's a great goalkeeper. You only get stronger from this," Courtois said.
13
No of times Belgium have been eliminated in the quarter-finals or earlier in 15 FIFA World Cup appearances
