Belgium brace for scorching Egypt opener as Garcia hails De Bruyne

Scorching heat for Monday opener

The Red Devils face Egypt in their World Cup opener on Monday and the forecast is brutal. Temperatures are expected to be extremely high, pushing the squad into sauna sessions to acclimatise ahead of the match (3) (6). An official heat warning is already in effect. The team is not taking it lightly, every edge matters when you're stepping into a furnace for your first group game.

Garcia: "De Bruyne is one of the most beautiful footballers of all time"

Rudi Garcia did not hold back when asked about his playmaker. "Kevin De Bruyne is one of the most beautiful footballers of all time," the Belgium coach said ahead of his first major tournament in charge (2). When pressed on whether he had already saved a special tactical plan for De Bruyne, Garcia smiled: "I'm keeping that for the final" (2). The confidence is clear, and so is the ambition.

Witsel: "It feels like 2014"

Axel Witsel says the atmosphere in the Belgium camp is the best he has felt since the 2014 World Cup. "When I came back, I immediately felt it was right," Witsel said during an open interview after a closed training session (9) (12). That 2014 squad reached the quarter-finals and laid the foundation for a golden generation. Comparisons to that spirit are not made lightly.

New vibe boss and a goal anthem

A new atmosphere chief has been brought into the setup and Radja Nainggolan is already a believer. "I've already heard prejudices. From people who don't even know him, mind you. But I bet he'll turn the Red Devils back into a group," Nainggolan said (5). The team also has a new goal anthem ready, a tune that will ring out every time Belgium scores, and one that has already caught on with the squad (8). Seys, meanwhile, admitted he's been blown away by Jérémy Doku in training (8).

Stadium visit and security tightened

The Red Devils visit the Seattle stadium on Saturday, their first look at the venue they will call home during the group stage (1). Meanwhile, security around the training complex has been reinforced with new screens after England's squad fell victim to a major theft (4). The message from the Belgian camp: nothing gets in, no one looks in.