Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is backing his side to spring a shock at the World Cup, insisting they can upset Spain in today\u2019s quarter-final after finally showing signs of their best form.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody in our team understands that it can be done. We\u2019ve got a strong group with attributes that Spain will need to factor in,\u201d Courtois said to reporters. \u201cThere are surprises in every tournament \u2014 in the Champions League, the Europa League, the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are always surprises, and I believe we can be one of them. Beating the European champions would naturally be a massive shock. The belief is there,\u201d he added after Belgium\u2019s 4-1 win over co-hosts the United States in Seattle on Monday.<\/p>\n
Belgium\u2019s route to the knockout rounds was far from smooth in the group stage. They scraped through after finishing top of the standings, ending with a 5-1 triumph over New Zealand in their final match, following earlier draws against Egypt and Iran.<\/p>\n
In the round of 16, they needed a major turnaround against Senegal. Belgium were two goals down with just five minutes remaining in regulation, but they pushed the game into extra time and then claimed a 3-2 win, sealing it with a last-minute penalty.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people were frustrated with how we played, but we\u2019ve corrected that. We\u2019re improving all the time,\u201d Courtois said.<\/p>\n
Courtois acknowledged Spain\u2019s status as the clear frontrunners. \u201cSpain are the favourites, of course. They\u2019re excellent when they have the ball, and when they lose possession they press quickly. That\u2019s where the deciding factor is: being able to attack the space behind their defence straight away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spain advanced to the quarter-final with a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last 16 after a late strike from substitute Mikel Merino in the 91st minute on Monday.<\/p>\n
Courtois pointed to that goal as a window into Spain\u2019s strengths. \u201cThe score against Portugal shows what they\u2019re good at. We also know Lamine Yamal is exceptionally gifted in one-on-one situations; he\u2019s quick, agile, and can take on two players if he has to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Courtois \u2014 widely regarded as one of the world\u2019s top goalkeepers \u2014 is well aware of the Spanish challenge from personal experience, having played for Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve lived in Spain for 11 years, so yes, that\u2019s a long time. Everything runs on a slightly later timetable there, and the weather is better too. But in the end, I\u2019m still Belgian.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpain is like a second home to me, and I\u2019ll probably keep living there after my career finishes. I also have two children who are naturally more Spanish than Belgian, but when it comes to tomorrow\u2019s match, it\u2019s all about Belgium,\u201d Courtois concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is backing his side to spring a shock at the World Cup, insisting they can upset Spain in today\u2019s quarter-final after finally showing signs of their best form. \u201cEverybody in our team understands that it can be done. We\u2019ve got a strong group with attributes that Spain will need to factor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Courtois Believes Belgium Can Upset Spain in World Cup QF","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Thibaut Courtois believes Belgium can upset Spain in the World Cup quarter-final, pointing to growing form and the power of tourna","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n