Football
Mark Rodden 10y

Marc Wilmots: U.S. will pose tough test

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has warned his players not to underestimate the challenge they face against the U.S. in the World Cup round of 16.

- Belgium seek element of surprise
- Delaney: Belgium rally after Defour red

Belgium progressed from Group H with a maximum nine-point haul after a 1-0 win over South Korea, sealed by a Jan Vertonghen goal.

They take on Jurgen Klinsmann's side, runners-up to Germany in Group G, in Salvador on Tuesday, and Wilmots told AFP in quotes reported by Eurosport: "The USA came out of a very tough group.

"All the teams that made it to the last 16 deserve to be there. For me, it'll be 50-50, even if people will make us the favourites.

"The climate will be OK, although it could be a bit humid."

Wilmots' side, of whom so much has been expected, have not always convinced despite their nine-point haul -- but the former Schalke midfielder said he did not mind what people thought as long as they kept winning.

"To play the best football... what does that mean?" he asked. "In the Brazil-Croatia game, I didn't find that Brazil played great football. What matters is to win and to get through. There are different systems and styles.

"We're at a World Cup, and you pay dearly for the smallest error. We're not here to look at other teams. We showed that we have 23 players and that we could trouble a lot of teams."

^ Back to Top ^