Belgium’s Rudi Garcia has taken to social media after his comments following their 3-2 victory over Senegal at the 2026 World Cup sparked outrage.

Belgium looked like they were going to head out of the competition when they trailed Senegal by two goals going into the final few minutes of their last 32 match at Seattle Stadium.

However, they produced an unlikely comeback to shock their African opponents and emerge victorious.

Romelu Lukaku, who started the match on the bench, gave Belgium hope as he halved the deficit with four minutes remaining. Youri Tielemans headed home shortly after to send the match into extra-time.

Belgium were then given a spot-kick in the dying embers of extra-time when Tielemans was felled inside the box. The Aston Villa midfielder made no mistake as he dispatched his penalty with aplomb to give his side the victory.

REUTERS/Albert Gea

Garcia caused a stir after the match with comments he made about Senegal ‘losing tactical control’ in the final minutes. He said, per Goal:

Garcia was asked to clarify those comments during his post-match press conference. He said: “No, no, I didn’t say that. You’re misinterpreting my words. Senegal deserved to go through as much as we did.

“I said that when you’re ahead, and that’s the case for all teams in the world, you tend to drop back and try to protect your goal. We pushed forward, and they dropped back. And I think if we hadn’t scored the second goal, we would never have come back.”

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Garcia has now taken to social media to defend himself even further following the backlash. He wrote in a statement on X:

“My comments were by no means aimed at African teams; they could just as easily have applied to Asian, South American, or European teams unfamiliar with that kind of pressure.

“As a less experienced coach myself, I learned the hard way that stopping play to defend a result at all costs is counterproductive. That is what I had in mind when I said that such teams can lose their tactical shape in those moments.”

Belgium will face co-hosts USA in the last 16 of the competition. The match will take place at Seattle Stadium on Monday, July 6.

Tottenham Hotspur do have an interest in a move to sign Bournemouth sensation Eli Junior Kroupi this summer, according to Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge.

The Lilywhites have had an incredible summer transfer window already, bringing in all of Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Mateus Fernandes, while a £100m deal to sign Sandro Tonali has also been agreed.

But after a second consecutive 17th-placed finish in the Premier League, Spurs are ready to go all-out to bolster Roberto De Zerbi’s squad for the new season, and a new forward is considered to be among the priorities for the window.

Update Emerges on Tottenham Move for Kroupi

Kroupi, who has been described as a ‘phenom’, had an incredible breakthrough season for Bournemouth in 2025/26, netting a record-breaking 13 goals in 35 appearances in the Premier League, more than any other teenager in a single campaign.

The Frenchman has attracted the interest of a number of clubs as a result of his performances, and Tottenham are understood to be one of the clubs who are also showing huge interest in his signature.

However, in an update shared by Sky Sports journalist Bridge, any deal is considered to be ‘highly unlikely’, as the Cherries have no interest in selling their prized asset ahead of the new campaign under a new manager.

Bournemouth have no need to sell and want to give Marco Rose the strongest squad possible to compete. It’s also stated that it would take an ‘astronomical offer’ for them to even consider a sale of the 20-year-old.

Bridge also stated that he spoke to a source about the deal who confirmed the interest in the player, although he also stated that everyone was keen on him, showing that there would be huge competition.

Tottenham Making Major Statements

Tottenham know they have to make a statement this summer ahead of the new season, and that comes with bringing in top players into the club to help them climb up the table and begin to compete for silverware once again.

Deals for Tonali and Fernandes were major statements, with the club breaking their transfer window twice in one window. But bringing in someone like Kroupi would arguably be an even better statement considering it comes after spending big money elsewhere, and with the competition they will face.

It’s unlikely a deal happens, but many would have said the same about Fernandes and Tonali just a few weeks ago, so this is one to keep a close eye on.

Croatia bowed out of the 2026 World Cup in controversial fashion on Thursday evening as they had a last-minute equaliser against Portugal ruled out.

Croatia, who went into their last 32 match with Portugal at Toronto Stadium as the underdogs, took the lead shortly after half-time when Ivan Perisic broke the deadlock.

Portugal battled back and a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Goncalo Ramos turned the match on its head.

Croatia thought they had netted a last-gasp equaliser to take the game to extra-time when Josko Gvardiol found the back of the net from close range.

However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out. It was deemed that Igor Matanovic made the slightest of touches on a cross that fell to Mario Pasalic in the build-up, who was in an offside position, meaning the goal was chalked off.

Igor Matanovic Speaks Out After Disallowed Goal

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The decision to rule out the goal sparked outrage, with FIFA feeling the need to release a statement explaining exactly why it was chalked off.

Matanovic gave a very honest interview after the match, confessing that he thought he made contact with the ball and that the goal was rightly disallowed. He said, per Abola:

He added: “It’s difficult to find the right words after the game. We played very well in the second half and deserved more. I haven’t seen the penalty yet, but if this is given… Three goals, offside, a post… I have no words, we were very unlucky today.

“When I came on, I had a good feeling on the pitch. We played a very good game, but this is going to hurt. We have to move on, keep attacking and think about the European Championship.”

Matanovic, who plays for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg, is being praised by football fans on Reddit for his honesty.

“Damn, rare to see honesty from players like this,” one fan said, while another commented: “A stand up guy. No ego here, just pure love of the sport.”

A third wrote: “Honesty in the big moments is rare, all respect to him,” while a fourth said: “Class act. Respect.”

Luka Modric Rages at VAR After Portugal 2-1 Croatia

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Croatia captain Luka Modric unleashed a stunning rant about VAR following the match. He said, via Sportske Novosti:

“Some things didn’t go our way. That penalty… If it were the other way around, VAR would never have been involved.

“VAR should intervene if it’s 200 per cent a mistake, but if it’s not, if it’s in the grey zone, you have no say in it. There’s no point in calling VAR.

“This is no penalty. Both teams are replaying, pushing, Vlašić didn’t pull it, he held it, and both of them fell. That’s why you can’t judge a penalty like that in a game like this.

“That’s why I say, it has to be used if the mistake is 200 per cent. If you can treat something this way or that, you have no say in it.

“That annoys me and always works to our detriment. What is, it is, let’s move on, we won’t complain about it, but of course, some things bother me because fate decides.

“They decide the mood for everything you do, what you give up, you tear yourself apart, you fight. There are young players who come here, and then you do something like this to them… You are to blame for that, and it is always to our detriment.”

Portugal will play Spain in a mouthwatering last 16 clash. The match will take place at Dallas Stadium on Monday, July 6.