• World Cup 2022

Belgium 0-2 Morocco: Vertonghen reacts to “frustrating” Red Devils defeat

Jan Vertonghen at Belgium
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An underwhelming performance from Belgium saw Morocco pull off a miracle on Sunday.

Jan Vertonghen has admitted Belgium were far from their best in their shocking 2-0 defeat against Morocco.

The Red Devils rarely find dangerous chances to find the back of the net against their African rivals. Second-half goals from Romain Saiss and Zakaria Aboukhlal sealed a crucial win for Morocco as the Belgians lost their chance to secure early qualification for the next round.

“We didn’t create much. I think we were good overall, we didn’t give much away, just an identical goal twice,” he told Sporza.

“Twice a resumption of play at the first post. That ball should never go in. The first time we are lucky, but the second time not any more.

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“There are a lot of things going through my head that I better not say, or at least not outside [the dressing] rooms.

“It’s very frustrating. The first game was not good, and we got away with it well. Not today. I don’t think we created any chances.”

Belgium will need to avoid defeat in their final group-stage match against Croatia to keep their last-16 hopes alive.

Vertonghen admits it won’t be easy for Belgium to earn their knock-out stage qualification on Thursday.

“After the first match, we thought it could only get better,” he added. “We were hoping to qualify for the next round today.

“Now we have a difficult final game in which everything will be at stake. The quality in the group is certainly there.”

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