The situation is quite improbable within the Belgian federation six months before the 2026 World Cup. Qualified for the World Cup in North America after finishing at the top of their qualifying group ahead of Wales, thanks to five victories and three draws, Rudi Garcia’s Red Devils can be ambitious next summer. They inherited a clearly easy group with Egypt as their first opponent, on June 15, then Iran and New Zealand, on the 21st and 26th.
After his failures at Al-Nassr and Napoli (and shaky ends at OM and OL), Rudi Garcia is fully invested in his mission. Since his appointment last January, the 61-year-old technician has completely immersed himself in the championship across Quiévrain. The former TF1 consultant thus ranted after the dismissal of Nicky Hayen from Club Bruges.
“His dismissal is incomprehensible”he said at the
Last Hour. So far, nothing really special from a coach as verbose as Garcia.
However, the Belgian federation published a press release to point out Rudi Garcia’s comments! “It is recalled that such a decision rests exclusively with the parties concerned and that it was an internal matter of the club, as in other similar situations. The Federation believes that it is appropriate to concentrate on its own operations and its ambitions. The Belgian Union underlines that relations and collaboration with all clubs, at all levels, are going excellently”we could read. Huge discomfort.
Rudi Garcia in the viewfinder
On the set of the show The Changing Roomfrom the Belgian media RTL Sports, the invited journalists absolutely do not understand the public response of the federation. For Marc Delire, it is “unheard of”since the federation went
“create a problem where there shouldn’t be one”. Kevin Sauvage, from Sud Info, quite simply evokes a conflict between Rudi Garcia and his N+1, Vincent Mannaert, the technical director of the federation (in charge of selections). The French coach of the Belgians is in the hot seat!
“Remember what we said in recent weeks, Mannaert had supposedly protected Garcia, I’m not sure, I don’t think the two men are always on the same wavelength, and this proves it. If you’re really behind your coach… I have the impression that we’re looking, a bit like Nicky Hayen in Bruges, where he had the sights pointed at him, and as soon as you make a mistake, you’re going to use it. There, guys, we’re going to the World Cup in four months, and you’re coming to fuck up with this? It’s ridiculous! »says Kevin Sauvage. A soap opera is launched.
