Atlanta– Facing Belgium and Portugal during this international break is expected to be a test for Mauricio Pochettino and the United States men’s national team, but Kevin De Bruyne understands it is also one for the Red Devils. With the calendar set to flip in April during the final international break before World Cup squads are announced, it’s a chance for countries to test their mettle against others participating in the World Cup, while there’s still time left for managers like Rudy Garcia to adjust their squads and tactics ahead of that final roster.
During his time with Manchester City, De Bruyne played against Pochettino in the Premier League, so he was able to give an insight into what to expect from their match on Saturday.
“They will want to show the country that they are ready for the World Cup because it is a big event and there will be a lot of pressure on them,” De Bruyne said. “So, I expect them to be aggressive, and it’s good for us to see how we handle it because in qualification we play against a lot of teams who maybe have played in less blocks and maybe now it’s the opposite, so it could be good for us.”
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At first you think, no Belgian has ever faced a team that will try to bring the game to them this year, right? Correct? But then, looking back, Belgium have not faced any team in the top 30 of the FIFA rankings since 2024, when they played France and Italy in the UEFA Nations League.
When preparing for the World Cup, teams not only want to play teams that will challenge them, but they also want to make sure they play a diverse competition, which is why Garcia likes the USMNT as well as the upcoming match in which the Red Devils will face Mexico.
Before the UEFA Nations League began in September of 2019, such matches between nations were common, but now, with fewer free slots on the calendar, and CONCACAF standing up its own Nations League competition, the schedule is not lined up for such friendly matches very often.
In their World Cup qualifying group, Belgium faced their stiffest challenge from Wales, a counter-attacking team with a heart that left the group with games against Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan and North Macedonia. All names that don’t give you the strength to prepare for the World Cup challenge.
Of course, the United States can’t even boast top-tier competition, but this is a side that was able to make the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, ahead of Belgium’s progress in Qatar as they were eliminated during the group stage, finishing behind Morocco and Croatia. However, from a Belgian perspective, the more important thing is the stylistic challenge. At this World Cup, not only will Belgium be given a tough test, but they will also face three different federations who will showcase different styles of play.
These types of matches are something that have fallen by the wayside due to the introduction of Nations League play, which forces UEFA teams to face each other constantly, and if they do not end up in a scenario where they get teams like England, France, Portugal or Spain, strong tests may be much less common.
When we look at the history of Belgium as a team that may have had a golden generation but did not win a single trophy during its peak, these are the issues that lie at its core. During the World Cup, you have to be prepared to face multiple styles on short notice and without any preparation or habituation, and during their time in the United States, Belgium will have that chance.
Being in America, the Red Devils can now adjust to the climate and facilities as well as facing their toughest opposition in over a year. Pochettino suggested that these matches should not be called friendlies and instead they should be called “unofficial games” because when you are playing friendlies, you are playing against friends, and that is not the case at all in Atalanta. These are two teams who want to show by winning that they are ready for the World Cup.
