Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has criticised Senegal’s tactical approach during their recent match, suggesting that the African side lost control of the game after taking a comfortable lead.
Speaking after the encounter, Garcia said Senegal appeared to drop their tactical structure in the closing stages, allowing Belgium to grow back into the match and eventually winning by 3-2.
“We know teams like that: they lose their tactical structure towards the end of the match,” Garcia said. “We knew that at 2-0 they would do everything to protect their goal, which in my opinion is a serious mistake.”
He added that Senegal’s decision to sit deep after going 2-0 up changed the momentum of the game and gave Belgium the opportunity to fight back.
“Remind me when we’re 2-0 up not to do that,” he continued. “Because when you concede a goal like they did at 2-1, the whole feel of the match changes.”
Garcia further explained that once Belgium pulled one goal back, the momentum shifted significantly, increasing pressure on Senegal’s defence and altering the psychological balance of the match.
He noted that Belgium capitalised on this shift, eventually finding a late breakthrough, including a stoppage-time goal that came from a penalty situation he described as “justified.”
Senegal, like many teams, has been praised in recent years for their physical strength, speed and attacking threat. However, their ability to manage leads in high-pressure matches has occasionally been questioned by analysts.
Garcia’s remarks underline a broader tactical lesson in modern football: that protecting a lead too early can sometimes invite pressure, rather than prevent it.
