Belgium’s national team, led by coach Rudi Garcia, achieved a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory against Senegal, securing their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. The match, marked by a dramatic turnaround, saw Belgium trailing 0-2 until the 86th minute.
Belgium fought back to equalize and then clinched the victory in extra time, with Youri Tielemans scoring a penalty in the 120+5 minute, marking the latest goal in World Cup history.
Garcia Comments on Senegal’s Mistake
Despite the dire situation, Garcia remained optimistic throughout the match, emphasizing the importance of belief in football. He stated, “In football, anything is possible if you believe in it. I’ve said before that the strength of this team lies in its bench. You cannot achieve a result with just eleven players.”
He also pointed out a critical moment that contributed to the comeback: “Towards the end of the match, our opponents lost their focus. They aimed to maintain the 2-0 lead, which, in my opinion, was a significant mistake. This gave us confidence, and once we closed the gap, the momentum shifted. It was crucial that we scored that well-deserved penalty at the end.”
In the knockout stage, Belgium will face the winner of the match between the United States and Bosnia, which is scheduled for tonight.
Starting Lineups for Belgium vs. Senegal:
Belgium (4-2-3-1): Courtois – Castagne, Mechele, Theate, De Cuyper – Vanaken, Tielemans – Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku – De Ketelaere
Substitutes: Lammens, Penders, De Winter, Fernandez-Pardo, Lukaku, Lukebakio, Meunier, D. Moreira, Ngoy, A. Onana, Raskin, Saelemaekers, Seys, Witsel
Coach: Rudi Garcia
Senegal (4-3-3): Diaw – Diatta, Ciss, Niakhate, Jakobs – Diarra, I. Gueye, P. Gueye – Ndiaye, I. Sarr, Mane
Substitutes: Y. Diouf, L. Camara, A. Diao, Dieng, M. Diouf, N. Jackson, K. Koulibaly, I. Mbaye, A. Mendy, C. Ndiaye, Sapoko Ndiaye, M. Sarr, P. Sarr, A. Seck
Coach: Pape Thiaw
