Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has launched a scathing attack on his Belgium teammates following their disappointing 1-1 draw against Kazakhstan that postponed their World Cup qualification.
Qualification hopes delayed
The Red Devils missed a golden opportunity to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup after being held by already-eliminated Kazakhstan in Saturday's Group J clash. Belgium needed just a victory to guarantee top spot and automatic qualification but instead slumped to a frustrating draw that leaves their campaign hanging in the balance.
The match began disastrously for the visitors when Dastan Satpaev capitalised on a defensive error to put Kazakhstan ahead after just nine minutes. Belgium managed to equalise shortly after half-time through Hans Vanaken, but couldn't find a winning goal despite their opponents being reduced to ten men late in the game.
Doku's explosive criticism
Speaking to Belgian outlet Sporza after the match, an visibly frustrated Doku didn't hold back in his assessment of the team's performance. "We've already dropped too many points because we weren't good enough in a large number of matches," the 23-year-old declared.
When asked whether the absence of key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois contributed to the poor result, Doku was equally blunt. "If we need them to win against Kazakhstan, then we can't do anything at the World Cup," he responded, shaking his head.
Tactical shortcomings exposed
The Manchester City star suggested that Belgium had underestimated their opponents and failed to properly analyse Kazakhstan's approach. "We looked at this team and thought they would play long, but then they played short and started playing football," Doku explained.
He added: "It was a completely different match than last time. Maybe we didn't analyse our opponent enough." This admission raises questions about the preparation under manager Rudi Garcia ahead of what should have been a straightforward qualification match.
The result means Belgium must now avoid defeat against Liechtenstein in their final qualifier on Tuesday to guarantee their place in North America. While a draw would likely be sufficient given their superior goal difference, the performance has raised concerns about the team's readiness for the tournament proper.
Defender Arthur Theate also faced questions about Belgium's defensive performance, particularly after his error led to Kazakhstan's opening goal. Theate acknowledged his mistake but defended the team's overall defensive record throughout the campaign.
With just one match remaining, Belgium have conceded seven goals in seven qualifiers, compared to second-place North Macedonia's three goals against. However, their attacking prowess has generally compensated for defensive lapses until this costly draw.
The pressure now mounts on Garcia's side to deliver a convincing performance against Liechtenstein, who have failed to score a single goal in their qualification campaign. Anything less than victory would represent a major embarrassment for a Belgian side featuring several Premier League stars.
