Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has disclosed that the Red Devils could have done better in their recent draw with Iran at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, www.aclsports.com reports.
Having battled to a draw with Egypt in their group opener, Belgium were held to a goalless draw on Sunday by Iran, and the tactician says they rue their wasted chances and look forward to their last, decisive group game.
“Obviously, we had hoped to start better and win all our matches – or at least one,” coach Rudi Garcia admitted. “But this is a part of life – sometimes this is how the cookie crumbles.”
Despite almost 70 per cent possession and 23 attempts at Los Angeles Stadium – the most for Belgium in a World Cup game without scoring since USA 1994 – the Red Devils were unable to take the lead against an Iranian side defending with all their might.
“We expected to dominate and we did. So tactically, in terms of the game plan, we played as we wanted to. The Iranian team were going to hit us hard on the breakaways and their set pieces are very good. We responded well but we could’ve done better – maybe we were a little naïve. If you’re not efficient you can’t score, and if you don’t score you can’t win the match,” Garcia concluded.
“We have to stay with the emotions, stay calm and keep our composure. That is something that we have to improve on, I think the players know that as well,” striker Romelu Lukaku said to FIFA after the contest.
“Desire and commitment to the cause. It’s a World Cup, it’s the biggest tournament, the biggest stage. We don’t want to go home. We want to go as far as possible and we want to put ourselves in the greatest position. Let’s go for it,” Lukaku said about Belgium’s last group game against New Zealand.
