Rudi Garcia: 'We Made Two Mistakes at This Level — That's Too Many'

Belgium's World Cup 2026 journey ended in the quarterfinals after a defeat to Spain. Head coach Rudi Garcia didn't hide his disappointment but insisted the team should hold their heads high. "I told the lads in the dressing room: we can be very proud of what we've done in this tournament. We went toe-to-toe with Spain today. It came down to fine margins and luck, and this time luck was on their side," the French coach said. Garcia also detailed the injury setbacks that hurt his side. "We lost our captain Tielemans before the match. Courtois picked up an injury during the game, and De Bruyne couldn't finish either due to a knock. Thibaut felt something in his muscle — I wasn't willing to take the risk. A relapse would be problematic for a goalkeeper of his caliber," he explained. Despite the adversity, Garcia admitted his team contributed to their own downfall. "We played very well. But at this level, you cannot afford mistakes. We made two. That's too many," he added. Spain will face France in the semifinals.