A lively, pro-American crowd is anticipated in Seattle for the United States’ round of 16 clash with Belgium on Monday. However, the Belgian team insists they are undaunted by the fervent atmosphere they will encounter.
“I think we just have to … show balls on the pitch,” stated left-back Maxim De Cuyper on Friday. “Try to play your own game. If you play against 80,000 supporters or with 80,000, you have to try to do the same.”
The US has benefitted from robust home support throughout the tournament, including in Seattle, where nearly 67,000 fans cheered as the Americans triumphed over Australia in their second group match.
“As soon as it turns a little less good for them, [the crowd] can also turn against them, and they will have more pressure,” full-back Timothy Castagne remarked. “So, I don’t have a problem, it doesn’t bother me. We play and we don’t hear what’s going on around the pitch. When we’re on the pitch, we’re a bit in our bubble.”
Previous Encounters and Current Form
This match marks another chapter in the history between the two teams, following a previous encounter in March where Belgium defeated the US 5-2 in Atlanta. This result raised considerable skepticism about the US team’s chances in the ongoing World Cup.
“They have been growing a lot since the last friendly game,” noted Dodi Lukébakio, who scored twice in the earlier game.
De Cuyper cautioned against over-analyzing Belgium’s prior victory, suggesting that the scoreline offered a “It was already being said back then that we might face the US at the World Cup,” of the match. He also commended Senne Lammens’s performance, indicating that the outcome could have been different without the goalkeeper’s contributions.
“Of course, many players weren’t there at the time. But it is an advantage that we have already seen them. We are taking things away from it. Although it remains to be seen how they present themselves.” De Cuyper explained. “I don’t want to say too much, which qualities are the best,”
US Team Adjustments
The US squad will be without striker Folarin Balogun, who is suspended after receiving a contentious red card in a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun has been one of the most threatening players for the US during the World Cup, but De Cuyper was reserved when discussing how Belgium would adjust to the absence of key personnel.
“They have a lot of danger in the team.” he said. “absolutely have to adapt to the fact that they play three at the back. I think we have the weapons to hurt them. We had already done it in a friendly in March, but today the context is totally different … in a stadium that will be only for them against us.”
Veteran midfielder Axel Witsel, however, was more candid, asserting that Belgium will “absolutely have to adapt to the fact that they play three at the back. I believe we have the tools to exploit their weaknesses. We managed to do that in a friendly in March, but the context is entirely different now … playing in a stadium that will be solely in their favor.”
