Belgium defender Maxim De Cuyper says his side have quickly moved on from their dramatic comeback victory over Senegal and are fully focused on the challenge of facing co-hosts the United States in the World Cup Round of 16.
Belgium looked destined for elimination after trailing 2-0 against Senegal in Seattle before producing a stunning late fightback to win 3-2 after extra time, booking a last-16 showdown with the USA on Monday.
Reflecting on the emotional victory, De Cuyper admitted it took time for the result to sink in.
“All the emotions after the Senegal match have settled down. Of course, it hit me hard at first because it was the first time I’d experienced something like that.”
The 25-year-old praised Senegal’s quality but felt Belgium stuck to their game plan throughout the contest.
“We had a game plan that we tried to execute as well as possible. At times, a strong Senegal side managed to break through, which isn’t unusual.”
Looking ahead, De Cuyper expects another difficult test against an improving United States side playing in front of their home fans.
“The United States have grown into this World Cup. They have a lot of quality. We have to show courage on the pitch. When you’re playing in front of 80,000 supporters, you have to stick to your own game.”
Despite celebrating one of the tournament’s biggest comebacks, Belgium know there are lessons to learn.
“There were positives and negatives from our match against Senegal. We need to analyse what we did wrong. Of course, it’s always better to be 2-0 up with five minutes left, but we showed a great deal of character.”
De Cuyper believes surviving several difficult moments during the tournament has only strengthened Belgium’s determination to keep their World Cup journey alive.
“We’ve escaped by the skin of our teeth a few times already at this World Cup. That’s why we’re still very hungry for more. If we can get through at least one more round, it will be even more satisfying.”
He added that Belgium remain confident in their abilities despite being forced to adapt tactically throughout the competition.
“Some matches have required us to play more on the counterattack, but we believe in our qualities. There’s no reason for us to think otherwise.”
