Garcia shields Belgium’s stars after ‘has‑been’ media jibe

Belgium manager Rudi Garcia stepped away from his usual measured tone after the Red Devils’ group match against New Zealand to defend his senior squad, denouncing recent media criticism that labelled his leaders ‘has‑been’ players. He insisted the criticism was unfair and highlighted the on‑field performance that disproved the claim. Garcia said his leaders had been heavily criticised in recent days, some journalists even calling them ‘has‑beens’, a description he called ‘ugly’. He argued that the players demonstrated on the pitch that they are ‘immense players’ and far from outdated. The criticism originated from French outlets, with and AFP relaying a severe column from a French colleague targeting Kevin De Bruyne and using the term ‘has‑been’. Garcia noted that the remarks came from France, not Belgium. While acknowledging a journalist’s right to be severe, Garcia argued the label was excessive and that Kevin De Bruyne deserves better treatment. De Bruyne answered the criticism with a dominant display in Belgium’s third group match.

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Garcia’s blunt approach mirrors Jose Mourinho’s habit of shielding his squad from media attacks, showing he will not let such comments pass unnoticed. The timing, however, risked diverting attention from the team’s strong performance against New Zealand. De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois appeared to welcome Garcia’s defence of the senior core. Their on‑field chemistry suggested they appreciated the manager’s backing.

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Media in the north of Belgium, particularly in Flanders, reacted negatively to Garcia’s outburst, criticizing him more than the senior players themselves. Garcia warned that such remarks could return as a boomerang if the Red Devils fail to progress beyond the round of 16. Should Belgium be eliminated before the quarter‑finals of the World Cup 2026, Garcia’s position could be in jeopardy, with his tenure likely ending after the tournament. With the core group standing behind him, he nevertheless has little to lose and could see his gamble pay off if the team advances.