Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku did not hold back in his criticism of the Belgian national team following a shocking 1-1 draw with Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
A Costly Stumble in Eastern Europe
The Belgians travelled to eastern Europe knowing a victory would secure their spot in next summer's tournament. Instead, they produced a lacklustre performance that leaves their automatic qualification hopes hanging in the balance. The match got off to the worst possible start for the visitors when Dastan Satpaev capitalised on a defensive error to put the hosts 1-0 up early on.
Hans Vanaken later managed to bag an equaliser for Belgium, but despite Kazakhstan being reduced to 10 men, the Rudi Garcia-managed side could not find a winning goal. This result means Belgium now must avoid defeat against Liechtenstein on Tuesday to be sure of their place in the World Cup.
Doku's Frank Post-Match Assessment
Speaking after the final whistle, Jeremy Doku was brutally honest about his team's display. He admitted that the performance was "not good enough" and that the entire squad, including himself and the coach, needs to improve.
"We've already dropped too many points because we weren't good enough in a large number of matches," the Man City star stated. He also questioned the team's preparation, suggesting they may have underestimated their opponents. "Maybe we didn't analyse our opponent enough," Doku mused, noting that Kazakhstan's style of play was a surprise.
Defensive Frustrations and The Road Ahead
The frustration was not limited to the attack. Defender Arthur Theate also struggled to hide his irritation when questioned about the team's leaking defence. He pushed back against the criticism, stating, "I get the impression you're always questioning the defence."
Despite the setback, Belgium still sits top of Group J, two points clear of both North Macedonia and Wales. A draw in their final match should be sufficient for automatic qualification. Meanwhile, North Macedonia and Wales will face off in a crunch match on Tuesday to decide who gets a play-off spot, with Craig Bellamy's Welsh side heading into that clash after a 1-0 win in Liechtenstein.
