Vandenbempt rebukes Garcia’s ‘has‑beens’ remark after NZ win

Belgian commentator Peter Vandenbempt expressed disbelief at Rudi Garcia’s claim that some of his senior internationals were being labelled ‘has‑beens’, after Belgium’s 5‑1 triumph over New Zealand in the World Cup group stage on Thursday morning. The victory marked a stark contrast to the team’s earlier draws. The Red Devils seized control from the start, with Leandro Trossard striking the post early. After the break he doubled the lead to 2‑0, sparking a collapse of the New Zealand defence. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Saelemaekers each added to the tally, sealing a 5‑1 scoreline. Belgium’s opening two group games ended in a 1‑1 draw with Egypt and a goalless stalemate against Iran, performances that attracted criticism for lacking the quality expected. The media scrutiny intensified after those fixtures, prompting Garcia to address the press.

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Rudi Garcia, the French coach, expressed frustration that seasoned internationals such as Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku were being described as past their prime. He said, “Men heeft hen behandeld alsof ze afgeschreven waren, alsof het ‘has‑beens’ zijn,” indicating his displeasure with the narrative. Peter Vandenbempt, a commentator for , reacted with surprise, noting that Garcia seemed to have heard in France that some players were called ‘has‑beens’. He added, “Zij hebben de criticasters van antwoord gediend,” suggesting the squad had already answered the critics. Vandenbempt also questioned the source of Garcia’s remarks, asking, “Ook ik heb dat gedaan met de vraag waar Garcia dat vandaan haalde. Oké, ze zijn bekritiseerd, omdat ze niet het niveau hebben gehaald dat we van hen verwacht hadden. Ik neem aan dat dat toch nog mag?” He warned that the coach’s irritation should not fuel a divisive ‘us‑versus‑them’ narrative after the New Zealand victory. Vandenbempt found the earlier criticism of the team’s performances not misplaced.