Ahead of Clash with USA: Internal Tensions in Belgium's Locker Room Weigh on the Team

A Years-Long Feud

In their private lives, the paths of both players have since realigned. De Bruyne has been married to Michèle since 2017, and the couple has three children. Courtois married Israeli top model Mishel Gerzig three years ago, and their first child was born a year after the wedding.

Sportingly, the Senegal match was no walk in the park for the "Red Devils" either. At 0:2 down, a heated exchange broke out between Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard during the second drinks break. Striker Romelu Lukaku had to step in to mediate. Coach Garcia subsequently praised the attacker's composed reaction, saying: "Romelu tried to calm both of them down. I like that." After the dispute, the match turned in Belgium's favor.

Spat During the Match Against Senegal

Tielemans, who now wears the captain's armband, headed in the late equalizer and converted a penalty in the 125th minute. Trossard also contributed decisively to the turnaround. Garcia described the upcoming clash against the USA as a "50:50 game."

The captaincy issue is a sensitive topic in Belgium regardless. Vincent Kompany led the team from 2010 to 2017 and is now coach at FC Bayern Munich. He was followed by Eden Hazard, with a brief transitional period in which De Bruyne wore the armband. Today, Tielemans leads the team onto the field as captain, as neither Courtois nor De Bruyne has held the role for an extended period.

The Captaincy Question for the Red Devils

Ahead of the match against the USA, several players are approaching personal milestones. For De Bruyne, long regarded in his career as a longtime star of Manchester City, it will be his 124th appearance in national team colors. Courtois, who plays for Real Madrid, will be making his 114th international appearance. Between goal and midfield, a wealth of experience will collide.

In attack, Garcia is meanwhile relying on the joker from the group stage. Romelu Lukaku, 33 years old and 95 kilograms, arrived at the World Cup plagued by injuries but has recovered fitness in time. He was brought on as a substitute in all three group stage matches and scored two goals. As an impact sub, he has become the Belgians' X-factor.

Lukaku as Joker and X-Factor

Meanwhile, Charles De Ketelaere, who has been filling in for the not-always-fit Lukaku in the starting lineup, is struggling with a form crisis. With each game, his performance in the unfamiliar role has weakened. Should Lukaku again come off the bench, the tide could quickly turn.

The starting position on Tuesday is wide open. Some 70,000 spectators at Lumen Field will be looking to carry the USA, the home country of many fans of Belgian descent, into the quarterfinals. The team coached by Christian Pulisic possesses quality, but Belgium has shown throughout the tournament so far that it can absorb setbacks. The match will be broadcast live in Germany on ARD and MagentaTV.

Whether the Belgian squad can set aside its internal tensions will be revealed on the pitch. The relationship between Courtois and De Bruyne has been considered strained for over a decade, and a quick reconciliation is not in sight. Reaching the quarterfinals requires more than footballing class – it requires unity.