The qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup are becoming increasingly intense in the European region. In the next match of Group "J," the Kazakhstan national team showed serious resistance to group leader Belgium at home and recorded one of the most unexpected results.
Belgium is generally known as a team that quickly conquers its opponents. But in Astana, the situation was completely different. Just in the 9th minute, Dastan Satpayev's goal uniquely "exploded" the situation on the field. The return goal, which the fans of Kazakhstan were so eagerly awaiting, was scored late - at the beginning of the second half by Hans Vanaken.
Belgium thus avoided defeat in a difficult match, but after the game, the morale within the team wasn't particularly high.
Doku: "We didn't perform well in this game"
Manchester City's fast forward, Jeremy Docu, sharply criticized the team's performance after the match. His thoughts seemed to be exactly what Belgian fans wanted to say:
- Did you get lucky in the game against Kazakhstan? Maybe. But this doesn't hide the problem. So, what is our main shortcoming? Ineffective actions. This is exactly the same situation as in the game against North Macedonia. "We've lost a lot of points," said Doku.
In the player's opinion, the team must be serious not only about the opponent, but also about its own chances:
- The coach, I, and all the other players - we all need to work harder. There are no small excuses in the national team.
De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois - losses are being felt
Doku also specifically addressed the absence of leaders:
"The absence of players like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois certainly had an impact. But despite this, if we can't defeat Kazakhstan without these players, then we have nothing to do in the World Cup," he said, drawing sharp conclusions.
Kazakhstan - the result of the coach's tactics
In the game in Astana, Kazakhstan's disciplined play, correct positioning on the field, and quick counter-attacks deserved special recognition. Satpayev's early goal instilled confidence in the team and a deep sense of satisfaction in the fans.
It's understandable: while this debate was significant for the group, it also showed how Kazakhstan has been growing in recent years.
Conclusion
Belgium is still the favorite, but Kazakhstan is also proving who it is. Docu's sharp criticism indicates that serious changes are required in the Belgian national team. There are still several rounds ahead - so not everything has been decided yet.
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