Rudi Garcia, Belgium's head coach, addressed the refereeing decisions in his team's 0-0 Group G draw with Iran on Sunday, saying some calls seemed cautious but emphasizing that Belgium's own performance was the decisive factor. Garcia noted that while the referee appeared too lenient with yellow cards, poor refereeing did not cost Belgium the match.
Garcia highlighted the physical toll of Nathan Ngoy's red card in the 35th minute, which left Belgium playing with ten men for the remainder of the contest. He stated: "Thirty minutes with ten men strongly affects physical condition," acknowledging the tactical disadvantage imposed by the dismissal.
Looking ahead, Garcia expressed confidence in Belgium's prospects, declaring: "I believe in my team. We will beat New Zealand, we'll have five points, and the main thing is to get out of the group." His statement reflects Belgium's determination to advance despite earning only one point from their first two matches.
Garcia's public optimism and tactical assessment may influence odds on Belgium's next fixture and Group G progression; markets on Belgium's knockout stage qualification could shift based on manager confidence and team psychology entering critical matches.