Belgium may still be on course to book their place at next summer’s World Cup, but their 1-1 draw away to Kazakhstan on Saturday left Jeremy Doku wondering why the team had bothered making the long trip to Astana in the first place.
Rudi Garcia’s side arrived in Central Asia needing only a straightforward performance to keep control of Group J, yet they found themselves frustrated by a disciplined and surprisingly confident Kazakh team.
Dastan Satpaev struck inside the first ten minutes, putting the home fans into early celebration.
Belgium had to wait until just after the break for Hans Vanaken to drag them level, but the Red Devils never showed enough fluidity or purpose to secure the win.
Despite remaining unbeaten in qualifying and still requiring only a home win over Liechtenstein on Tuesday to seal top spot, the mood in the Belgian camp was far from relaxed.
No one embodied that frustration more clearly than Manchester City’s Doku, who did not hide his disappointment at the final whistle.
“We’ve already dropped too many points because we weren’t good enough in a large number of matches,” he said per Metro Sport, summing up a feeling that Belgium had been drifting through the campaign rather than controlling it.
Belgium have collected four victories from seven games so far, but the twin draws against North Macedonia have already raised eyebrows.
Saturday’s result only amplified concern that the team’s performances have lacked sharpness, structure, and the ruthlessness expected from a nation that has spent the past decade boasting one of the world’s strongest squads.
Doku questions preparation and missing stars
Doku condemned Belgium performance as he did not shy away from the fact that team were without their biggest names.
Injuries kept Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Thibaut Courtois off the team sheet—three players whose influence often shifts matches on their own.
But the winger warned that if Belgium require their entire star trio just to beat Kazakhstan, then ambitions of making a deep run at the World Cup may be unrealistic.
“Our campaign hasn’t gone well, no. Everyone needs to do better,” said Doku.
“The coach, me, everyone. Kevin, Romelu. Thibaut, if we need them to win against Kazakhstan, then we can’t do anything at the World Cup.”
The tone was blunt, reflecting not only Doku’s frustration but also his belief that Belgium’s issues run deeper than simply missing senior figures.
The City winger argued that their preparation had been inadequate, noting that the side expected Kazakhstan to approach the match with a predictable long-ball strategy.
Instead, the hosts surprised Belgium by keeping the ball on the ground, choosing to play through midfield and challenge the Red Devils in possession.
“We looked at this team and thought they would play long but then they played short and started playing football,” he said.
“It was a completely different match than last time. Maybe we didn’t analyse our opponent enough.”
Those remarks pointed a finger not only at teammates but also at the coaching staff—an unusually direct criticism from a current international player, especially in the middle of a qualification campaign.
The absence of structure was evident throughout the match. Belgium dominated the ball but created few clear opportunities, while Kazakhstan grew more confident as they saw how easily they could disrupt their opponents’ rhythm.
While Belgium ultimately avoided defeat, it was the lack of control that most concerned their winger.
After Doku condemned Belgium performance, Eintracht Frankfurt defender Arthur Theate, one of the more consistent performers in the campaign, also offered his own assessment—one that acknowledged some of Doku’s concerns while defending the defensive effort shown by the team.
“If you feel like it, go ahead. It’s not that I disagree,” Theate said when asked about Doku’s criticism. “But if you concede a goal, that’s the problem. If you don’t score, it’s the attack’s fault.”
Theate accepted that the early goal should never have been allowed to happen but insisted that the defensive record overall has been solid.
Belgium have conceded few goals across the qualifiers, and Theate suggested that one poor moment should not overshadow what has otherwise been a disciplined backline.
“Of course, we shouldn’t have conceded that goal but we haven’t conceded many goals this campaign,” he added.
“Agreed, conceding three goals at home against Wales wouldn’t have been right. But otherwise, we weren’t put in much danger. But you can judge for yourself. I just think we’re having a good campaign defensively.”
His comments drew a subtle line between the defensive and attacking responsibilities within the squad, reinforcing a sense that Belgium’s problems may have more to do with creativity, tempo, and cohesion going forward rather than defensive frailty.
What comes next for Belgium — and for the group?
Belgium’s focus now shifts to Tuesday’s match against Liechtenstein in Liege. Even though Doku condemned Belgium performance against Kazakhstan, a victory would guarantee first place in Group J and remove any uncertainty about their World Cup qualification.
On paper, it is the easiest fixture of the campaign, but Saturday’s draw means no one inside the Belgian camp will be taking anything for granted.
Assuming Belgium complete the job as expected, the most dramatic battle in the group will take place elsewhere.
Wales and North Macedonia—locked together on 13 points and trailing Belgium by two—will meet in Cardiff on the same night in a straight fight for second place.
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Goal difference strongly favours the Macedonians, meaning Wales must win if they want to finish above them.
Wales, however, will still have a fallback option: they are already guaranteed a route into the play-offs through the Nations League.
Even so, securing second place would give Wales a better seeding and potentially smoother path in the play-offs.
For North Macedonia, the stakes are simpler but heavier: avoid defeat, and they take the runners-up spot.
After taking points off Belgium twice, they will travel to Cardiff believing another disciplined performance could seal a historic qualification push.
