Belgium's World Cup Journey: Full Squad and Optimism Ahead of Knockouts

Belgium arrive at the sharp end of this World Cup with something they have barely known all tournament: a clean bill of health and a clear horizon.

After days of patching up key men and juggling line-ups, coach Rudi Garcia could finally talk about a full squad with something close to relief in Seattle on Tuesday.

“Before this game against Senegal, we are lucky to have everyone available, and that's a good thing because it was not the case for the first three games,” he said. Earlier in the group stage, too many players were short of full fitness. “Everyone was not 100 percent, unfortunately, or everyone was not completely fit. But this is over.”

It comes at the perfect time. The margin for error has vanished.

From stumbles to statement win

Belgium’s route to the knockouts has been anything but smooth. They opened Group G with back-to-back draws against Egypt and Iran, results that fed the old doubts about a side still searching for a defining World Cup run.

Then came New Zealand, and with it a release of tension. A 5-1 rout did more than secure top spot; it restored a sense of authority. Belgium ended where they intended to be in the standings, even if the road there was far from the ideal Garcia had in mind.

“We wanted to end first in the group and this is what we did,” the coach said. “I wish we had won more games, all the games, but we're not going to go back in the past. What matters now is that we progressed out of the group stage.”

The tone has shifted. The frustration of those early stalemates has given way to something more optimistic, built on the belief that Belgium have yet to show their best football.

Lukaku and Doku on the rise

That optimism rests heavily on the condition of their stars.

Romelu Lukaku, the country’s record scorer, arrived at this World Cup under a cloud. A nagging hamstring problem restricted him to barely an hour of football for Napoli last season. He has been used sparingly here as well, mostly from the bench, but even in limited minutes he has managed to leave a mark.

Jeremy Doku’s journey has been different, and deeply personal. The winger missed Belgium’s second group match to be in London for the birth of his son, a brief but significant interruption to his tournament. Charles De Ketelaere also sat out the 0-0 draw with Iran because of a knee concern, a precaution that underlined just how fragile Belgium’s attacking options looked at one stage.

Now, the picture is brighter.

“Jeremy, Romelu are getting better. Charles, I think that his problem is over as well,” Garcia said, framing the knockout rounds as a fresh start rather than a continuation of the group-stage grind.

For a side that leans heavily on its forward line, having all three trending upward changes the entire feel of the tie against Senegal.

No comfort in favourites’ tags

The stakes are clear. Lose, and Belgium’s campaign ends with another post-mortem about wasted potential. Win, and the narrative flips to one of a heavyweight finding form at the right moment.

Inside the camp, there is little appetite for talk about favourites and underdogs. Monday’s shock result – Paraguay’s upset of Germany – cut through any lingering complacency across the tournament and served as a timely warning in the Belgian dressing room.

Atalanta forward De Ketelaere did not need to dress it up.

“I don't think it matters who is the favourite,” he said. “It matters that we have confidence in ourselves and that we are sharp tomorrow to just go win this game, because yesterday showed us that to be favourites or not, it doesn't matter.

“We need to be alert and sharp to win the game.”

That is the reality Belgium now walk into: no excuses, no alibis, and for the first time in this World Cup, no significant injuries. A fully loaded squad, a knockout tie against a dangerous Senegal, and a tournament that has already shown it has no respect for reputations.

If this generation is going to make its stand, it starts here.