# Rudi Garcia faces backlash for substituting Courtois in World Cup loss to Spain

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia substituted goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during a World Cup match against Spain, which Belgium lost. The decision drew strong criticism from Belgian fans and media, questioning the timing and impact on the team's performance.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/11/rudi-garcia-belgium-world-cup-thibaut-courtois-spain) — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 19:03:34 GMT