Belgium players have said they will need to show courage and composure to overcome a pro-American crowd when they face the United States in the last-16 of the World Cup on Monday in Seattle.
Belgium unfazed by hostile atmosphere
Left-back Maxim De Cuyper stated on Friday: "I think we just have to … show balls on the pitch. Try to play your own game. If you play against 80,000 supporters or with 80,000, you have to try to do the same." The Americans have enjoyed strong home support throughout the tournament, including nearly 67,000 fans at the US-Australia group match in Seattle.
Full-back Timothy Castagne added: "As soon as it turns a little less good for them, [the crowd] can also turn against them, and they will have more pressure. So, I don't have a problem, it doesn't bother me. We play and we don't hear what's going on around the pitch. When we're on the pitch, we're a bit in our bubble."
Previous meeting and adaptation
Belgium defeated the US 5-2 in a friendly in Atlanta in March, a result that raised doubts about American prospects. Dodi Lukébakio, who scored twice in that match, noted: "They have been growing a lot since the last friendly game." De Cuyper cautioned against overinterpreting that win, calling the scoreline a "distorted picture" and praising goalkeeper Senne Lammens's performance.
De Cuyper said: "It was already being said back then that we might face the US at the World Cup. Of course, many players weren't there at the time. But it is an advantage that we have already seen them. We are taking things away from it. Although it remains to be seen how they present themselves."
US without key striker
The US will be without striker Folarin Balogun, suspended after a controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. De Cuyper was cautious when asked about adapting: "I don't want to say too much, which qualities are the best. They have a lot of danger in the team." Veteran midfielder Axel Witsel was more direct: "We will absolutely have to adapt to the fact that they play three at the back. I think we have the weapons to hurt them. We had already done it in a friendly in March, but today the context is totally different … in a stadium that will be only for them against us."
