Belgium’s qualifying path was relatively straightforward, featuring encounters against the likes of Wales, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan and North Macedonia. While those fixtures secured their place at the tournament, they offered little in the way of high-pressing, high-intensity preparation. Facing a Pochettino-led side provides the exact “aggressive” stimulus De Bruyne believes has been missing from their recent schedule.
The fixture in Atlanta serves as a vital experimentation ground for coach Garcia to refine his tactics. With the World Cup looming, the ability to handle an opponent that refuses to sit in a low block is paramount. As De Bruyne noted, the shift in style is exactly what the Red Devils need to ensure they don’t repeat the mistakes of past tournaments where they struggled to adapt to non-European tactical systems.