Garcia hoping to find weakness in Egypt as Belgium start World Cup campaign

[p]Monday's match ‌features the two strongest teams in Group G, which also ‌includes [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a], meaning the game is not necessarily a ‌must-win for either side.[/p][p]A last-32 – and potentially last-16 – game in ‌Seattle near to both teams' base camps awaits the winner of the group, however, and the contest presents a great opportunity for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] ‌to take the initiative, Garcia said.[/p][p][b]"We are going ⁠to focus on our strengths, ‌we want to be protagonists," Garcia told reporters, adding: "We really need to ​go all-in tomorrow as if it is the final."[/b][/p][p]He was highly complimentary towards an Egypt side featuring world-class talent ​in forwards [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]Mohamed Salah[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marmoush-omar/44pYRYIC/"]Omar Marmoush[/a], and also boasting a strong defensive record, saying: "It is one of the best African squads ⁠of all time."[/p][p]But he ​added: "All teams have weaknesses... we will see tomorrow if we can exploit those weaknesses."[/p][embed guid="8074e812-e9bc-4df8-b467-9b7a81410228" url="https://x.com/BelRedDevils/status/2062931425020490059" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Garcia happy to have hydration breaks[/h2][p]Belgium crashed out in the group stage in 2022 and Garcia was circumspect when asked what he was aiming ‌for with a talented squad at his disposal.[/p][p][b]"It's step by step – get out of the group stage, but we want to finish top of the pool," he said.[/b][/p][p]To do so, they will first have to deal with high temperatures in Seattle, which will be helped by hydration breaks – though Garcia said they were significant in other ways.[/p][p][b]"For me, it's a coaching break more than a cooling break, so to me it's very important," Garcia said.[/b][/p][p]Monday will ‌mark Garcia's first game managing at a World Cup, as well ​as captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tielemans-youri/GtkTQyib/"]Youri Tielemans[/a]' first time leading Belgium at a ‌major tournament.[/p][p]The midfielder said he hoped to take the positivity from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a]'s Europa League triumph last month, but like his coach, sounded a note of caution.[/p][p][b]"I can tell every first game's very nervous... so it's going to be up ⁠to us to start well," ⁠Tielemans said. He added: "Go for ‌it, no regrets and then anything can happen."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/belgium-GbB957na/egypt-bejDn7NN/?mid=dG7zgzd5"]Follow the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]