The beginnings of the Belgian team led by Rudi Garcia are contrasting. During the March International Window, two months after the enthronement of the very first French Red Devils, Kevin de Bruyne and his teammates were beaten 3-1 by Ukraine, before winning this Nations League dam in favor of a 3-0 on the return. Then, in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the Belgians began, on June 6, with a draw in North Macedonia (1-1)!
Fortunately for Rudi Garcia, successor to a Domenico Tedesco with chaotic routes, Belgium has torn a precious success against Wales (4-3), its main rival in the group of playoffs, thanks to a KDB goal in the 88th minute. We will have to fill up on points against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan, on September 4 and 7, in Vaduz and Brussels.
Garcia made a strong decision during the two rallies: he did not summon Johan Bakayoko, a great hope of Belgian football, international since 2023. The pchingist winger of the PSV had a little soft during the season. In the Champions League, holder against PSG and against Brest, he lost his place in the eleven during the dam won against Juventus (2-1, 3-1), in February, and did not start during the 7-1 collected against Arsenal in the round of 16.
The first strong choice of Rudi Garcia
Bakayoko (his father is Ivorian) accepted his sidelining of the Belgian selection. “I really have a good relationship with the coach, he felt that I was not very well in my skin, I was not happy, I was grumpy, I was not the Johan he knew. I was not ready, it also made me understand what I had to improve and that it is not necessary to leave any margin or moments of spring ”he confides to Dazn. The one who grew up in Louvain (in the Flemish region) has a good chance of relaunching his career: he has just been recruited by Leipzig for 18 million euros plus four as a bonus.
Lucide, Johan Bakayoko, 22, is determined to flambé in the Bundesliga to find the national team and perhaps establishing himself as an offensive weapon by Rudi Garcia on the way to the 2026 World Cup. The former coach of OM, OL, Napoli and Al-Nassr (where it has been poorly ended) must find the right formula with Romelu Lukaku, Jérémy Doku, Jérémy Doku, Jérémy Doku Loïs Openda, Leandro Trossard, Charles de Ketelaere or Malick Fofana. The talent tank is interesting.
