Rudi Garcia slams Senegal’s late tactical collapse in 2-1 loss to Belgium

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia sharply criticized Senegal's tactical approach after his team snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory in their World Cup match. Senegal had held a 2-0 lead late in the game but ultimately collapsed, allowing Belgium to equalize and then win with a penalty in stoppage time.

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We know teams like that: they lose their tactical structure towards the end of the match.

"We know teams like that: they lose their tactical structure towards the end of the match," Garcia stated in a post-match interview. He specifically called out Senegal's decision to focus on defending their lead as a "serious mistake." The Belgian manager used the situation as a cautionary tale for his own squad, emphasizing the danger of complacency when ahead.

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At 2-0 they tried to protect their goal, which in my opinion is a serious mistake.

"Remind me when we’re 2-0 up not to do that. Because when you concede to make it 2-1, the whole feel of the match changes," Garcia warned. He highlighted how Senegal's defensive posture shifted the momentum entirely, paving the way for Belgium's comeback.

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Remind me when we’re 2-0 up not to do that. Because when you concede to make it 2-1, the whole feel of the match changes.

Garcia asserted that Belgium's late winner, awarded from a "completely justified penalty," was the deserved outcome of a hard-fought match. The victory marked a significant turnaround for the Belgian team, who had to fight back from a two-goal deficit to advance.

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completely justified penalty