9 July 2026
Quarter-Final Coaching Masterclass: How Belgium's Rudi Garcia Got It Right
The Guardian's power rankings credit Belgium's coach Rudi Garcia with a bold and clear-headed selection call that transformed his side ahead of the quarter-finals.
The Guardian's World Cup team power rankings place Belgium among the tournament's most improved sides, and much of the credit goes to their head coach, Rudi Garcia. After a shaky group stage in which Belgium scraped past Senegal, Garcia made ruthless changes for the round of 16, dropping both Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku in a signal that no player was untouchable.
Charles De Ketelaere responded to the added responsibility by scoring twice against the United States, helping Belgium to a commanding 4-1 victory. According to The Guardian, the performance was a reminder that collective effort can outshine individual star power when a coach is bold enough to demand it.
Belgium now advance to face Spain in Kansas City on Friday, and Garcia's willingness to make difficult decisions will be tested again at the highest level of the competition.
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