It's crunch time for Belgium as they gear up to face Senegal in the World Cup Last 32, with the Red Devils still reeling from the controversy sparked by a scathing article in La Libre. Manager Rudi Garcia took umbrage at being called out by the Belgian tabloid, which likened star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne to a 'washed-up Hollywood actor' after his subdued performance against Iran. "I really didn’t appreciate them being called has-beens," Garcia fumed in his post-match press conference, defending his players and highlighting their calibre. He singled out De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, and Leandro Trossard as his "four leaders" – a quartet that delivered the goods against New Zealand, with Trossard netting twice to spark Belgium's account.
Despite their current ranking of 10th in the world, there are whispers that Belgium's 'Golden Generation' may have reached its sell-by date. But don't count them out just yet – they've still got the firepower to cause a stir, with talents like Jeremy Doku and Youri Tielemans lining up alongside the veteran quartet. And as for Senegal? The African dark horses might be flying under the radar, but their group stage campaign was far from straightforward, with losses to France and Norway that would have dented the bravest of sides.
So what can we expect from this high-stakes showdown in Seattle? A free-flowing spectacle? A battle for survival? One thing's for sure – only one team will be dancing their way into the Last 16, where a mouth-watering clash with either the United States or Bosnia and Herzegovina awaits.
Source: The Guardian