Belgium’s leaders backed to disprove ‘has beens’ tag in Senegal challenge

The brief

Belgium had just beaten New Zealand 5-1 to secure top spot in Group G and, at least in theory, an easier last-32 draw, but Rudi Garcia was evidently irked. In response to the first question in a curt post-match press conference, he adjusted the microphone to ensure his point was heard. “I really didn’t appreciate them being called has beens,” he said alluding to an article in La Libre, a French-language Belgian newspaper, that compared Kevin De Bruyne with a washed-up Hollywood actor after a flat display against Iran in their previous match in Los Angeles. “When a nation has players of that calibre, you support them,” Garcia added, praising…