Belgium's Red Devils take on European champions Spain in a World Cup quarter-final in Los Angeles on Friday, a match that carries the weight of history for a Belgian side that has rediscovered its edge at just the right moment. Coach Rudi Garcia acknowledged Spain's status as favourites — the side has been playing recognisable, possession-based football for nearly two decades and entered the tournament among the tournament's top contenders — but was unequivocal about Belgium's chances. "We have a great team," he said. "We are among the highest scorers in the World Cup, and we think we can do it."

Belgium's path to the quarter-finals has been anything but smooth. After drawing their opening group matches against Egypt and Iran, the team looked uncertain and short of purpose. A turnaround came in the round of 16 against Senegal, where Garcia's bold rotations — resting star players Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku before bringing them back late — drew criticism before being vindicated by a comeback win. The team then dismantled hosts the United States 4-1 in Seattle. Football analyst Hans Vandeweghe of Belgian daily De Morgen summed up the shift: "The momentum lies completely with the Belgians." King Filip of Belgium travelled to Los Angeles to dine with the squad on the eve of the match, telling the players directly: "You must win — and it will depend on you."

Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, 33, whose minutes have been carefully managed throughout the tournament, struck a composed but determined tone at the pre-match press conference. "If you get this far, you don't play just to go home," he said. "We are well prepared and we have assets that can make life difficult for them." Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has spent years living and playing in Spain with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, framed the contest in collective rather than individual terms: "Individually we had more quality in 2018, but now we have a strong collective."

One less-discussed factor could also play a role: travel fatigue. Belgium based themselves in Seattle throughout the tournament and covered roughly 5,000 kilometres in total — less than half of Spain's approximately 12,760 kilometres across six time-zone changes. Performance specialists note that repeated flights reduce oxygen levels and increase tiredness, and that the cumulative toll of travel should not be underestimated, even for elite athletes accustomed to frequent movement.

The historical record favours Spain, who lead the all-time series between the two nations with 12 wins to Belgium's five, with six draws. But Belgium do have one landmark result to draw on: a penalty shootout victory over Spain at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. A direct win tonight, Garcia's side knows, would be a bigger statement still. Back home, nearly a third of Belgians surveyed this week say they expect their team to reach the final — a measure of just how quickly football fever has returned to a country that had all but written off this generation.