Belgium defender Maxim De Cuyper says his side have quickly moved on from their dramatic comeback victory over Senegal and are fully focused on the challenge of facing co-hosts the United States in the World Cup Round of 16.
Belgium produced one of the tournament’s most remarkable turnarounds, recovering from 2-0 down to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time and secure their place in the knockout stage.
Reflecting on the emotional win, De Cuyper admitted it took time for everything to sink in.
“The emotions after the Senegal match have settled down. It hit me hard at first because it was the first time I’d experienced something like that,” he said.
The defender praised Senegal’s quality but felt Belgium remained committed to their game plan throughout the contest.
“We had a plan that we tried to execute as well as possible. At times, a strong Senegal side managed to break through, which isn’t unusual.”
Looking ahead, De Cuyper expects another demanding test against the United States, who have impressed as the tournament has progressed.
“The United States have grown into this World Cup. They have a lot of quality.”
He also stressed the importance of staying composed despite the expected atmosphere inside a packed stadium.
“We have to show courage on the pitch. When you’re playing in front of 80,000 supporters, you have to stick to your own game.”
While acknowledging there were mistakes to address from the Senegal match, De Cuyper believes Belgium showed the character needed to succeed in knockout football.
“There were positives and negatives from that game. We need to analyse what we did wrong. Of course, it’s always better to be 2-0 ahead with five minutes left, but we showed a great deal of character.”
Belgium have survived several tense moments during their World Cup campaign, something De Cuyper believes has only strengthened the squad’s determination.
“We’ve escaped by the skin of our teeth a few times already at this World Cup. That’s why we’re still very hungry for more. If we can get through one more round, the satisfaction will be even greater.”
He added that the nature of tournament football often forces teams to adapt their style, but Belgium remain confident in their abilities.
“Some matches have been difficult because we’ve had to play more on the counterattack at times. But we believe in our qualities, and there’s no reason for us to think otherwise.”
