The midfielder was realistic after Belgium’s last group game. A great success in the numbers against Japan but many details still to be improved when approaching the quarter-finals.
AWhen analyzing today’s performance, the Red Lions were extremely lucid. No excessive euphoria after qualifying for the quarter-finals. The players were aware that the most important part of this World Cup was beginning for the team after a group stage that was more than satisfactory but with, nevertheless, many aspects to improve in order to tackle the cut-throat meetings.
“Overall the performance was not bad and the score is very good even if I would have hoped to score more goals given the face of the game”, regretted John-John Dohmen. “We could have done it by being a little more focused. Our second quarter is excellent but the second half was not very good except for a few blows for our goals. Otherwise it was very average. I don’t know how to explain it yet but I think it’s linked to a lack of concentration. »
It is now a quarter-final which awaits Belgium on Tuesday, against the winner of the duel between India, host country, and New Zealand (Sunday, at noon, Belgian time). “We achieved our first goal of the tournament by finishing in first place in the group. Now, whoever the opponent is, in four days we will prepare as well as ever. If we face India, we already have a specific plan for this duel. We know, in any case, that it will not be easy and that we will have to evolve at our best level to achieve it. They are still very difficult to beat at home. But we are also well aware that we can still progress at all levels. »
The Red Lions who have, once again, not been spared from injury since their central defender and penalty specialist, Alex Hendrickx had to leave the game at the end of the first quarter. “It’s clear that we really have no luck”, still punctuated the Brussels midfielder. “We have never played full since the start of the tournament. Each time we have to adapt in real time. But we can see that we have experience and that we are above all well prepared. I especially hope that we can recover Alex for Tuesday. It is essential that we are all confident for the quarter-final. »
There are now 4 days left for the reigning world champions to work out the details. This quarter-final will be the start of a second competition where the slightest error will no longer be allowed.
