How Lammens turned the page after his mistake against Spain

In the corridors of the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, on July 10, the Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, headphones on, was wandering alone, his gaze lost, after Belgium's elimination against Spain. He had just let Pau Cubarsí's shot slip by, allowing Mikel Merino to score the winning goal (2‑1) in the World Cup quarter‑final.

An immediate and sustained reaction

« He didn't lock himself in his grief », said the Belgian Federation, highlighting that Lammens had quickly moved past the “feeling of shit” he had described himself. The same day, Manchester United posted on Instagram: « Keep your head up, Senne. We are all with you », a message that boosted his morale.

Family support and restorative holidays

After the match, Lammens reunited with his parents, his brother and his partner Vanessa in Los Angeles, enjoying a welcome break. He then extended his stay in the United States, visiting New York before flying to Lake Geneva in Switzerland, where hiking, nature and golf helped recharge his batteries.

Technical debrief and confidence intact

The next day, a few hours before the squad's return to Belgium, Lammens reviewed the match with the goalkeeping coach, Guy Martens. The diagnosis was clear: he should have dived with his hands forward on Merino, but the confidence of the Belgian Federation did not waver.

The goalkeeper did not catch a flight back to Brussels, preferring to stay a few days in Los Angeles with his partner, then continue his holidays. This break was all the more necessary after a turbulent year: a transfer from Antwerp to Manchester United, followed by a World Cup quarter‑final.

Early return to Manchester

Lammens was originally due to resume training in Manchester on August 3, but he returned four days earlier, eager to get back on the pitch only twenty days after the quarter‑final. Upon his arrival on July 30, Harry Maguire gave him a warm welcome, illustrating the esteem of his teammates.

Despite an avoidable goal conceded against Fulham the previous weekend, Paul Scholes's criticisms – « For me, Lammens is not a world‑class goalkeeper » – have not hindered the progress of the young Belgian, who continues to make decisive saves.

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