Youri Tielemans leads 'damage control' after Iran draw

Captain Youri Tielemans addressed the media in Seattle on Monday, the day after Belgium’s 0‑0 draw with Iran at the World Cup, describing the session as ‘damage control’ and emphasizing the squad’s confidence and focus on reaching the next round.

Tielemans said he is not a difficult interviewee; he is well‑spoken and pleasant, able to give interesting answers when the context permits.

At the press conference he added, “We have turned the knob and are 100 % focused to push through to the next round. No, we have not won a match yet, but we have not lost either and we know what we must do,” reflecting the team’s mindset.

He stressed that the group remains full of confidence yet maintains humility, noting, “We work hard to achieve the goal: progressing to the next round.”

Tielemans also commented on the Iran game, saying, “We had chances to score at least once or twice, but their goalkeeper made a few fine saves.”

When criticism was directed at core leaders De Bruyne, Meunier and himself, he replied, “It is logical that people look at experienced players in such situations, but it must be dealt with collectively. The criticism matters little to me; I hate pointing fingers at one player – if we do not win, it is the team’s fault, not one or two individuals.”

Regarding the final group match, Tielemans explained, “World Cup emotions run high, we know that. If we win, we are qualified and everything is fine. We must approach the last game positively.”

He concluded, “Everyone perhaps expected us to win all matches 5‑0 and finish first in the group, but football does not work that way today. All opponents have qualities, analyse them and can defend. It is up to us to find the solution, and qualification is what counts.”