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World Cup star OUT of quarter-final after injury heartbreak minutes before kick-off
Jul 10 2026 20:48 · By Kieran Horn,Digital Sports Journalist · 44 Reads
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Youri Tielemans has been replaced by Hans Vanaken in Belgium's starting XI to face
Spain
in a World Cup quarter-final just before kick-off due to an injury.
With just 15 minutes until the game was due to start, the
BBC
broke the news that Tielemans was forced to miss out having also not appeared in the warm-up.
BBC lead commentator Steve Bower said: "Well I understand that Youri Tielemans has been withdrawn from the
Belgium
side at the very last minute and that Hans Vanaken will come in.
"Tielemans did not play any part in the warm-up, it was a bit
weird
, I haven't got it 100% confirmed yet, but my understanding is that he won't play and Hans Vanaken will be in that defensive midfield role, so very, very late change."
The decision was made official moments later with the Belgian national team stating on X: "Following an injury during the warm-up, Youri Tielemans is replaced in the starting XI by Hans Vanaken."
Bower later added that it may be a hamstring injury with the 29-year-old spotted in the dugout just a few minutes into the clash.
That blow is not only an issue for Belgium but also for
Aston Villa
with club and national team-mate Andre Onana rupturing his ACL in the last-16 victory over the
USMNT
.
The build up to that clash was engulfed in controversy after Folarin Balogun was allowed to play despite being sent off in the previous round. FIFA suspended his one-match ban for 12 months which caused uproar in Belgium and amongst other nations.
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England boss Thomas Tuchel was one of those far from pleased and his
anger at the situation likely only increased upon learning that Jarell Quansah was banned for two games
after his red card against
Mexico
He will miss the quarter-final against
Norway
and a potential semi-final against either
Switzerland
or
Argentina
There are also concerns that
Marc Guehi and Declan Rice could be absent after the duo missed training
in the lead up. The latter has been dealing with illness while Guehi picked up a hamstring issue in the win over Mexico.