Belgium Coach Marc Wilmots admits “substitutes changed the game” after fighting back to beat Algeria 2-1.
The tie was turned around completely by Marouane Fellaini and Napoli winger Dries Mertens.
Belgium Coach Marc Wilmots admits “substitutes changed the game” after fighting back to beat Algeria 2-1.
The tie was turned around completely by Marouane Fellaini and Napoli winger Dries Mertens.
It’s the first time in history that two Belgium substitutes have scored in a single World Cup game.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy and in the first half we struggled to identify the spaces, then conceded the goal due to an individual error,” said Wilmots.
“After the break, however, the substitutes changed the game.”
The Red Devils have been tipped as dark horses in this tournament, but had been surprisingly 1-0 down to Algeria.
“For many players this was their first World Cup match, so there was a little understandable and some preventable tension.”