Buitenlandse media blame Courtois' injury, Ibrahimovic blames Garcia

Spain’s victory over the Belgen, secured after Thibaut Courtois’ injury, has been hailed as a turning point in the tie. Buitenlandse media and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both highlighted the incident, with Ibrahimovic pointing to Garcia as the player who cost Belgium the match. The Spanish and, by extension, foreign media were unanimous in their assessment that the injury and subsequent replacement of Thibaut Courtois allowed Spain to pull the win over the Rode Duivels. Spaanse media echoed the foreign press, emphasizing the decisive influence of the goalkeeper’s absence on the outcome. Thibaut Courtois’ injury forced a change in the Spanish line‑up, which the press in Spanje argued tipped the balance in Spain’s favour. The replacement goalkeeper contributed to the clean sheet that secured the victory.

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Bij La Roja, a hero’s role was earmarked for Mikel Merino, whose performance was singled out by the Spanish coverage. De Belgische anti‑hero was not far from the spotlight, as the narrative painted the Belgen side as lacking impact. Zlatan Ibrahimovic pointed to Garcia, stating: “Hij heeft de Belgen de match gekost”. His comment added a personal dimension to the analysis of the match. Spain now turns its attention to the next stage of the tournament, while Belgium must regroup after the setback. Both sides will seek to address the issues highlighted by the media before their upcoming fixtures.