Belgian Coach Tedesco Still Believes He’s the Right Man for the Job

 Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Belgian Coach Tedesco Still Believes He’s the Right Man for the Job

 Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)

Belgium's 1-0 defeat by Israel in the Nations League on Sunday has ramped up the pressure on Domenico Tedesco but the coach still believes he is the right man for the job.

Belgium have won just two of their last 10 internationals and only avoided bottom place in their group, and relegation from the top tier, because of better head-to-head results against the Israelis.

The 39-year-old has come under scrutiny since Belgium's disappointing exit at the European Championship and while the defeat in Budapest on Sunday did little to ease the pressure Tedesco remained positive about his role.

"I trust my qualities. I trust my staff, I trust my players. I trust the people around me. I know how hard I work," he said.

Belgium's timid tactics have been criticized throughout the six-game campaign despite Tedesco promising a more adventurous approach after they limped out to France in the last 16 at Euro 2024 in July.

"After the Euros I told you that we have to change something in some games, we missed intensity, and that we have to try new players because if we don't do it now we will never do it," Tedesco told reporters.

"This campaign was different because of many, many injuries."

Belgium were without a host of key players for their last group game on Sunday and lost the match late on after a horror defensive error from new cap Matte Smets.

"It was a difficult game, difficult circumstances, and it's difficult to say something harsh to this young team," said Tedesco.

"We are better equipped now to go into the next year's World Cup qualifiers."

While his future was the subject of much debate in Belgium after the loss to Israel, Tedesco was not letting it get to him.

"The negative sentiment is nothing new. I was told this is typically Belgian," he added.

"Naturally the results in the Nations League did not help but in March we have a sort of final in the playoffs to keep our place in the A League. It will be good to start the New Year with a strong focus."



Tottenham’s Bentancur Banned 7 Games, Fined $126,000 for Offensive Comment on South Koreans

Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham celebrates scoring the 1-2 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town in London, Britain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)
Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham celebrates scoring the 1-2 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town in London, Britain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)
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Tottenham’s Bentancur Banned 7 Games, Fined $126,000 for Offensive Comment on South Koreans

Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham celebrates scoring the 1-2 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town in London, Britain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)
Rodrigo Bentancur of Tottenham celebrates scoring the 1-2 goal during the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town in London, Britain, 10 November 2024. (EPA)

Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for seven matches on Monday for making an offensive comment about South Koreans in relation to a remark about Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min.

The English Football Association said in a statement that an independent commission also imposed a £100,000 ($126,000) fine on the player.

Appearing on a Uruguayan television show in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, “Sonny’s?” He added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because “more or less they are all the same.”

Bentancur apologized to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you.”

He was charged by the English FA in September because he was alleged to have “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.”

The FA said it constituted an aggravated breach because it included “reference to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”