Belgium football team suffers defeat against Ukraine, 3-1

Belgium's football team faced a tough start under new coach Rudi Garcia, losing 3-1 to Ukraine in a Nations League play-off. The match took place on Thursday and marked Garcia’s first game in charge. Belgium went ahead in the first half with a goal from Romelu Lukaku, but Ukraine responded strongly in the second half. Substitutes Oleksiy Hutsuliak and Vladyslav Vanat, along with defender Illia Zabarnyi, turned the game around for Ukraine, scoring three goals. After the match, Garcia acknowledged the team's defensive weaknesses, stating that improvement is necessary. He emphasized the need for a stronger mentality going into their next match. Belgium had a disappointing run, finishing third in their group with only four points and facing the possibility of being relegated from the competition for the first time. Garcia took over the team in January, replacing Domenico Tedesco. Despite recent issues, he included goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the lineup, despite concerns about his long absence from the team. Courtois urged his teammates to remain calm and treat the defeat as a learning opportunity. Belgium is set to host Ukraine again for the return leg on Sunday in Genk.