Belgian press blasts Red Devils after Iran stalemate and red card

Belgian media delivered a scathing verdict on the Red Devils after their goalless draw with Iran at the World Cup. Belgium, managed by Rudi Garcia, failed to progress past Iran following an earlier draw with Egypt. “They must now realise it’s five to midnight,” wrote Het . The performance was branded “frustrating” and likened to “a bad Hollywood B-movie” by Het . Despite creating numerous chances, Belgium could not find the net. The team survived a red card for defender Nathan Ngoy and escaped defeat. The match finished 0-0. Toby Alderweireld, analyst and former international, labelled this Belgium squad “the weakest group at the World Cup.” He added, “You simply have to finish top of your group. They must now realise it’s five to midnight.” Het argued that bigger nations like Spain and the Netherlands corrected their opening-day failures on matchday two, but Belgium did not. “This team makes no claim to group victory at this stage. Even elimination in fourth place is still possible. It becomes a do-or-die match against New Zealand. Which hack screenwriter came up with this?” struck a similar tone. “Two points against Egypt and Iran is as unacceptable as it is painful and scandalous. The Red Devils are losing all credibility — and the head coach is no exception.” The paper criticised Rudi Garcia for starting Romelu Lukaku, stating, “Big Rom was not ready for this step. You could see that. He lacks rhythm.”

Rudi Garcia vows Belgium to beat New Zealand and qualify

’s headline read “Suddenly it’s getting scary.” The report noted Belgium’s struggles against a resilient Iran, adding that Nathan Ngoy’s red card forced a “weak” late offensive that yielded no reward. La Dernière Heure highlighted Thibaut Courtois as Belgium’s man of the match, making crucial saves to prevent a “total disaster.” Kevin De Bruyne was described as “invisible,” Nathan Ngoy’s performance as a “mess,” and Romelu Lukaku’s display as “Average Rom.” Rudi Garcia, under growing pressure, sought to strike a defiant tone after the match. “I have confidence in my team. We will win the match against New Zealand. Then we’ll have five points and advance from the group stage.”

Degryse and Alderweireld demand Rudi Garcia start Hans Vanaken against Iran fallout

Kevin De Bruyne, speaking as Belgium’s captain, admitted, “We made a few stupid mistakes and put ourselves under pressure. We were lucky with that free kick — you have to admit that. But we also had chances to score.” De Bruyne added, “Today this can go into our heads, but tomorrow it must be done. We haven’t done well enough so far, so we know what we need to do. Tournaments are special. One match can change everything. We know we have to win that match.”