"We put pressure on their key players", Garcia said after the match. "The players did exactly what I asked. They fought hard, but we needed luck on our side. Unfortunately, luck smiled on Spain, not Belgium".

Rodri's handball in the penalty area during Belgium's 1-2 loss to Spain in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA on 10/7. *Screenshot*

The controversial incident occurred in the 62nd minute, with the score at 1-1. From a cross by Belgium forward Alexis Saelemaekers, center-back Aymeric Laporte headed the ball, which struck Rodri's outstretched arm. However, referee Michael Oliver did not award Belgium a penalty, and VAR also did not intervene.

Garcia was furious that VAR did not review the incident. "Too many things did not go our way. Referee Michael Oliver not blowing the whistle is one thing, but what is VAR for?", he questioned. "I think handball situations will always be a contentious issue. In a World Cup quarterfinal against a top-class opponent like Spain, you need luck on your side".

At SoFi Stadium on 10/7, Belgium adopted a defensive strategy, waiting for counter-attacking opportunities. They succeeded with this approach in the first half, holding Spain to a 1-1 draw thanks to Charles De Ketelaere's equalizer. Belgium seemed poised to force extra time, but conceded a goal in the 88th minute. Substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens fumbled a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi, creating an opportunity for Mikel Merino to tap in the rebound, securing Spain's spot in the semifinals.

In this match, Belgium faced significant squad difficulties. Captain Youri Tielemans suffered a groin injury during warm-ups and was unable to play. First-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to leave the field in the 71st minute due to a muscle injury, and attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne also could not finish the match, departing in the 86th minute.

Coach Rudi Garcia reacts during Belgium's 1-2 loss to Spain in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA on 10/7. *AP*

Garcia praised his players' fighting spirit despite the adverse circumstances. "We can be proud of our World Cup journey", he stated. "Belgium will learn from this defeat. I do not think the team has anything to be ashamed of. We made a strong team like Spain work very hard. Tonight, luck was not on our side. We lost our goalkeeper, lost our captain, and then had to change our plans when De Bruyne could not continue playing".

After the match, Courtois stated he could have continued playing and implied Spain would not have won had he not left the field. Garcia said that substituting Courtois was a carefully considered decision, as he only used players in the best physical condition from the start of the tournament. According to the Belgium coach, Courtois played impressively and consistently delivered long passes to create counter-attacking opportunities. However, after the 34-year-old goalkeeper experienced a muscle issue, Garcia was forced to make a substitution to avoid the risk of his player's injury becoming more severe.

The coach, born in 1964, also refused to criticize Lammens, the Manchester United goalkeeper who made a mistake in his World Cup debut. "That is part of top-level football. You have to maintain absolute focus and demonstrate your ability in big matches like these", he stated.

Spain scored the winning goal for a 2-1 victory.

Garcia has managed Belgium since 1/2025, under a contract extending until the end of the World Cup 2026. The 62-year-old coach declined to discuss his future, instead focusing on veteran players like Kevin De Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku, who may have played their final World Cup match.

"This is not the time to talk about the future", the French tactician said. "I am disappointed, especially for the players who may not return to the national team for future major tournaments. I wanted to take this team as far as possible, to give the veteran players one last chance to shine".

Hong Duy (via ESPN)