Senegal faces Belgium in the World Cup: coach Pape Thiaw sees new competition and bets on the squad’s confidence to advance
The Senegal team secured their place in the next stage of the World Cup, ranking as the eighth best team in the group stage. However, coach Pape Thiaw assesses that the knockout stage, an all-or-nothing format, represents the beginning of a different tournament, where even seed leaders can be surprisingly disqualified.
The Senegalese team, which advanced in third place in Group I after one win and two defeats, will face Belgium, leader of Group B with one win and two draws. The knockout match, worth a place in the round of 16, will be held this Wednesday, at 5pm (Brasília time), at Seattle Stadium, located in the United States.
In a press conference held on the eve of the clash, the Senegalese commander emphasized the need to maintain the victorious pace. He declared that the team is firm in its intention of winning the game and moving forward, reinforcing that they see this moment as a new championship, where leadership in the group stage does not prevent early elimination, as seen in the confrontation between Morocco and the Netherlands.
Coach Pape Thiaw’s assessment of the strength of the Belgian team
Even with the confidence expressed in his team, Thiaw made a point of praising the quality of the opposing team.
The coach stated that the clash will be approached with a lot of determination and self-confidence, but also with deep respect for Belgium. He described the Belgian team as a team that has achieved notable feats, being one of the main powers in European and global football, and guaranteed that Senegal is prepared to fight intensely to stay in the tournament.
Tactical adjustments and the situation of defenders before the decisive game
The coach revealed that he had made changes to the team’s formation after the negative results in the opening matches against France and Norway. Although he did not reveal the starting squad for the game against Belgium, he expressed satisfaction with the performance shown in the 5-0 rout of Iraq.
Thiaw highlighted the objective of putting the best formation possible on the field, recognizing the importance of the duel from start to finish and the ability of the reserves to make a difference. He also recalled the difficulty of the first two defeats, classified as bitter, and the need to adjust the strategy against Iraq to ensure qualification.
Defender Koulibaly, who played in the opening two rounds and performed below expectations against Norway, was left out in the match against Iraq, a situation that could be repeated in the decisive clash against Belgium.
Defender Mamadou Sarr expressed his readiness to debut in the World Cup, making himself available to the coach. Alongside Thiaw at the press conference, the player, who has not yet taken to the field in the tournament, stated that he is calmly awaiting his chance.
“I have a great desire to play. Participating in a World Cup is every athlete’s dream, but the coach has the final say, and I respect that completely. I continue to keep my preparation up to date, and regardless of whether I am called up or not, I will be ready”, declared the defender.
A confirmation in the lineup is the absence of goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who suffered an injury to his left knee and had already been absent in the game against Iraq. The athlete returned to Saudi Arabia to undergo exams with his team, Al-Ahli, with the expectation of returning to the United States to rejoin the delegation.
“He will be present with us for the game against Belgium, even though he is not in a position to play. We hope to see him back. Therefore, it is essential that we win the victory to maintain the hope that he will be available for the next stages of the tournament”, detailed Thiaw.
If the Senegal team advances to the round of 16, their next opponent will be the winner of the clash between the United States and Bosnia, also scheduled for this Wednesday, at 9 pm (Brasília time).
