World Cup
De Cuyper warns Belgium must rise to host USA’s growing power
Belgium’s surprise victory over Senegal secured their place in the World Cup round of 16, where they will meet host nation United States. Defender Maxim De Cuyper reflected on the win’s significance, noting the team’s character and the looming challenge of a powerful American side.
De Cuyper warned that the United States possess “enormously much quality and a lot of danger” and have grown significantly in recent years. He added that playing at home, with crowds of up to 80,000, makes the opponent even more threatening.
Reflecting on the Senegal match, De Cuyper said there were many positive points but also areas that needed improvement. He highlighted the character the team displayed as a crucial factor.
When asked if he felt abandoned by the player ahead of him, De Cuyper answered “No, not at all” and explained that they had a clear game plan they tried to execute. He noted that adding an extra defender was never part of the plan.
Evaluating his own World Cup performance, De Cuyper described it as “okay” but admitted it could have been better if he had been more decisive. He cited a missed opportunity to score against Iran that might have made him the tournament’s top scorer.
Statistics show De Cuyper is among the players with the most ball touches in the round of 16. He downplayed the importance of the numbers, calling them “secondary” to the team’s objectives.
He recalled the March friendly where Belgium won 5‑2 against the United States, stressing that the match could have turned out very differently. Senne, he noted, kept the team on track several times, and the training camp proved useful, with talk of a possible World Cup rematch.
De Cuyper asserted that Belgium’s tournament is far from a success, emphasizing that advancing another round would make a big difference. He concluded that the team’s hunger remains high and they must prove their quality in the upcoming match.