Belgium's World Cup Challenge After Tielemans Injury
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The noise was building inside SoFi Stadium, the lineups were in, and Belgium’s captain looked set to lead them into a World Cup quarterfinal with Spain. Then, in the quiet of the warmup, everything changed.
Youri Tielemans, named in Rudi Garcia’s starting XI, pulled up with an undisclosed injury before a ball had even been kicked. Within minutes, the Aston Villa midfielder was out, Hans Vanaken was in, and Belgium’s carefully drawn plan had to be rewritten on the fly.
For a side that has leaned so heavily on Tielemans in this tournament, it was a jolt. He had been at the heart of Belgium’s run to the last eight, starting every game in the group stage and scoring twice in that wild 3-2 comeback against Senegal in the round of 32. He was there again from the first whistle in the round of 16, helping knock out co-hosts the United States.
Until Friday night, the only time he had been off the pitch for Belgium at this World Cup was the final six minutes of a 5-1 cruise past New Zealand. He has been their constant. Their metronome. Their captain.
Now, suddenly, he was gone.
Garcia turned to Vanaken, who at least arrived with recent proof he can change a game. The midfielder came off the bench and scored in Belgium’s 4-1 dismantling of the U.S. on Monday, a performance that had seemed to deepen the squad’s sense of momentum. He had replaced Amadou Onana that night, a substitution born of opportunity. This time, his inclusion came from necessity.
Onana is already out of the tournament, ruled sidelined for the rest of the World Cup with a torn knee ligament. Zeno Debast has not kicked a ball here either, the defender held back by Sporting CP due to a leg injury. Belgium’s depth, once the envy of Europe, is being tested in the sharpest of moments.
Garcia did at least restore two of his biggest names to the lineup. Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, both rested to the bench against the U.S., returned to the XI against Spain. With Tielemans missing, their creative burden only grows heavier.
The stakes could hardly be higher. Spain on one side, Belgium on the other, and France waiting in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday for whoever survives. One late injury in a warmup has shifted the feel of the night.
Now the question is simple: can Belgium absorb the loss of their captain and still punch their ticket to a semifinal date with the world champions?
