This Bok team ‘not picked’ to beat Scotland

Rassie Erasmus has emphasised the Springboks’ bigger picture after selecting an overhauled match 23 for the world champions’ next Nations Championship assignment.

Erasmus made 10 changes from the starting XV that beat England last week, with only Jesse Kriel, Damian Willemse, Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortjé and captain Pieter-Steph du Toit retaining their spots to face Scotland at Loftus on Saturday. freshyourfeel.org

Vodacom Bulls duo Handré Pollard and Embrose Papier take charge at halfback.

TEAM: Pollard, Papier take charge of new-look Boks

The reshuffle also sees Aphelele Fassi pair with Edwill van der Merwe and Canan Moodie in the back three, while Boan Venter, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw form a new-look front row, with Cobus Wiese joining Nortjé in the second row.

Several low-cap players in key positions, like last week’s debutant De Villiers and the returning Papier, will look to the double World Cup-winning experience of Kriel, Pollard, Willemse and Du Toit for guidance.

MORE: Rassie bullish about Papier’s role

Asked during Monday’s press conference if Scotland’s 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba had any bearing on his selections, the Bok coach took the opportunity to highlight the importance of building depth ahead of next year’s World Cup.

“No, Scotland’s win didn’t play a role at all. This team was not picked for specific reasons surrounding Scotland,” Erasmus said.

“It was for us to make sure that when we go into the World Cup next year, we know who can do what, when and how, and under pressure and not under pressure. Some combinations were picked more with that in mind.

“Scotland played really well, I thought. They’re obviously a good team. I mean, they beat England in the Six Nations. So if you just go on those results, then probably this match will be tougher than last weekend.”

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Erasmus pointed to Los Pumas’ lack of preparation as a factor in that result, while acknowledging his own troops face a similar challenge against Scotland given the scale of changes made.

“You could see Argentina, very few of their players play in Argentina and it’s very tough in the first game. They didn’t even have a warm-up game and their coach Felipe Contepomi was a week before that in Port Elizabeth with the Barbarians.

“The southern hemisphere teams normally take a game or two to get some good rhythm and cohesion and for us, if you look at the team, there’s a lot of changes,” he added.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post This Bok team ‘not picked’ to beat Scotland appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

L’AS Monaco a officiellement lancé un nouveau chapitre de son histoire en annonçant la nomination de Filipe Luís au poste d’entraîneur de l’équipe première. Le technicien brésilien de 40 ans succède à Sébastien Pocognoli et s’est engagé avec le club de la Principauté jusqu’en juin 2028.

C’est via un communiqué que l’AS Monaco a annoncé le début de ce nouveau projet sportif. « L’AS Monaco est heureux d’annoncer l’arrivée de Filipe Luís au poste d’entraîneur, marquant le début d’un nouveau cycle. Le technicien brésilien de 40 ans s’est engagé jusqu’en juin 2028 avec le Club de la Principauté », peut-on lire sur le compte X (ancien Twitter) du club de la Principauté.

Ancien défenseur de renom, Filipe Luís s’est forgé une solide réputation sur les terrains européens, notamment sous les couleurs de l’Atlético de Madrid et de Chelsea. Après avoir mis un terme à sa carrière de joueur, il s’est rapidement tourné vers le métier d’entraîneur, où il a démontré de réelles qualités de gestion et de développement des jeunes talents.

En lui confiant les rênes de l’équipe, les dirigeants monégasques misent sur un entraîneur à la philosophie de jeu ambitieuse, capable d’insuffler une nouvelle dynamique à un effectif qui nourrit de grandes ambitions sur la scène nationale et européenne.

Filipe Luís aura désormais la responsabilité de préparer l’AS Monaco pour la nouvelle saison, avec l’objectif de permettre au club de retrouver les sommets de la Ligue 1 et de briller dans les compétitions européennes.

The post AS Monaco : Filipe Luis nouvel entraîneur appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Scrumhalf Embrose Papier says his hard work has paid off with his selection for the Springboks to face Scotland this weekend, but that he still has to perform to retain his place.

Papier has 10 caps but has not played for South Africa since 2018.

Through consistent performances at the Bulls over the years, and a United Rugby Championship SA Player of the Season award, he fought his way back into the side this year, helped by some injuries to established scrumhalves.

Return to the Springbok fold

Papier is one of 13 players coming into the Springbok side for their second Nations Championship match, after South Africa beat England 45-21 at Ellis Park last weekend.

He joins nine Bulls teammates as head coach Rassie Erasmus has stacked his team with Bulls players to feature at their franchise’s home ground, Loftus Versfeld.

In 2018, Papier played a string of games on the bench, replacing Faf de Klerk and Ivan van Zyl before his first start against Scotland in Edinburgh.

It is fitting that his return to international rugby eight years later will be against the same opponents.

After naming his team on Monday, Erasmus said it was beneficial that the half-back pairing of Papier and Handré Pollard would face Scotland together after helping the Bulls overcome the heartbreak of their 2024 URC final defeat to Glasgow Warriors by beating the Scottish side in this season’s Edinburgh semi-final.

“I thought he played really well this season,” Erasmus said of Papier.

“Obviously, guys like Faf, Cobus Reinach, Jaden Hendrikse and a few of the well-established guys, even Herschel Jantjies, were part of two World Cups.

“Sometimes [not being selected] is not because someone is not playing well enough, or not of Springbok class. It’s just because some other guys are playing really well.”

Papier to partner with Pollard

Erasmus said there had been some injuries and players losing form recently. Papier, meanwhile, had improved his form.

“It’s nice to have him with the Springboks and get his opportunity at home with Handré.

“Hopefully, that also helps him… he will be with someone he is used to at a field he is familiar with.”

Papier said he was learning a lot in the Springbok camp.

“But I still need to grow and work hard to earn my place here,” the scrumhalf said.

“We all know Handré has a lot of experience. We’ve spent a lot of time together. I’m excited to go into this game with him.

“But we know it will be a challenge for us. The Springbok environment has different calling. We just need to pitch up on the day.”

USA vs Belgium prediction.Co-hosts USA face Belgium in the Round of 16 at Lumen Field, Seattle on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 (02:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026)). Balogun’s one-match ban was suspended by FIFA — he is available. Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 AET; Lukaku expected to start over De Ketelaere. Our prediction: both teams to score.Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.

Match details

Field	Detail
Competition	2026 FIFA World Cup — Round of 16
Date & kick-off	Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 02:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026)
Venue	Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, USA
How they got here	USA: beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in R32. Belgium: beat Senegal 3-2 AET (Tielemans 120’ penalty) in R32.
Format	Single elimination. If level after 90 mins: 30 mins extra time, then penalty shoot-out.
Where to watch	DSTV/GOTV

Home comforts vs Belgium’s dominance

The United States arrive in Seattle for a match they were built to reach. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been one of the tournament’s most entertaining attacking sides, scoring in every match and averaging at least two goals per game. Their 2-0 win over Bosnia in the R32 was comfortable. The Stars and Stripes are bidding for their first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance since 2002, and playing at Lumen Field adds a home dimension to a game they will treat as the most important in the programme’s history.

The biggest pre-match development arrived late: a linked KE article confirms FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-match ban. The USA’s top scorer with three tournament goals — initially facing a suspension after his red card vs Bosnia — is cleared to start. Christian Pulisic continues to captain and orchestrate. Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman retain their places in the XI.

Belgium have never lost to the United States in modern football history. Their only defeat across the full head-to-head came at the 1930 World Cup. Since then, Belgium have won six consecutive meetings, including a 5-2 victory in a March 2026 friendly — just months before this tournament. Rudi Garcia’s side were pushed to extra time by Senegal before Youri Tielemans’ 120th-minute penalty sealed a 3-2 win. Romelu Lukaku has come off the bench to score in two consecutive matches and that form earns him a first start of the tournament, with Charles De Ketelaere dropping to the bench. Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard complete a formidable attacking unit.

Team news and expected line-ups

USA: Balogun AVAILABLE — ban suspended by FIFA (5 July ruling). Expected to start. Pulisic captains. Dest and Tillman retain places. Adams anchors midfield.

Belgium: Lukaku STARTS — replaces De Ketelaere after bench goals in two straight matches. De Bruyne orchestrates. Doku and Trossard wide. Tielemans and Onana in midfield.

USA (4-3-3 expected)	Belgium (4-3-3 expected)
Freese (GK)	Courtois (GK)
Freeman (RB)	Castagne (RB)
Ream (CB)	Mechélé (CB)
Richards (CB)	Theate (CB)
Robinson (LB)	De Cuyper (LB)
Adams (DM)	Tielemans (CM)
Tillman (CM)	Onana (DM)
Dest (RW)	Doku (RW)
McKennie (CM)	De Bruyne (AM)
Pulisic (LW)	Trossard (LW)
Balogun (ST)	Lukaku (ST)

Key stats

• USA: R32 result — beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0.
• USA: scored at least 2 goals in every World Cup match. Averaging 2+ goals per game.
• Folarin Balogun: 3 tournament goals. Red card vs Bosnia. BAN SUSPENDED by FIFA on 5 July — available to start.
• Christian Pulisic: captain and creative leader.
• USA: bidding for first World Cup quarter-final since 2002.
• USA form: W L W W W.
• Belgium: R32 result — beat Senegal 3-2 AET (Tielemans 120’ penalty).
• Belgium: unbeaten in over a year (last defeat: Ukraine, March 2025).
• Romelu Lukaku: scored from bench in two consecutive matches. STARTS vs USA.
• Kevin De Bruyne: Belgium’s creative fulcrum. Central to everything.
• Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard: direct, dangerous wide options.
• Belgium: beat USA 5-2 in a March 2026 friendly. Beaten USA in all 6 of the last meetings.
• Belgium’s only defeat to USA: 1930 World Cup.
• Belgium form: W W D D W.
• H2H: Belgium W6 USA W1 (1930) in 7 meetings. USA last beat Belgium 93 years ago.

Head-to-head

Belgium have dominated the recent head-to-head utterly. USA’s only ever win came at the 1930 World Cup. Since then, Belgium have won six consecutive meetings, with the most recent being a 5-2 victory in a March 2026 friendly — played just before this tournament.

Date	Result
28 March 2026	USA 2–5 Belgium (International Friendly)
1 July 2014	Belgium 2–1 USA (2014 World Cup R16, AET)
30 May 2013	USA 2–4 Belgium (Friendly)
6 September 2011	Belgium 1–0 USA (Friendly)
25 February 1998	Belgium 2–0 USA (Friendly)
1930	USA 3–0 Belgium (1930 World Cup)

Current form

Team	Last 5 (inc. WC)
USA	W L W W W — 2-0 vs Bosnia in R32; scoring in every match
Belgium	W W D D W — unbeaten 12+ months; Lukaku scoring from bench

Our prediction

USA have the home support, the scoring threat — especially with Balogun reinstated — and the momentum of co-host advantage. Pulisic and McKennie will press Belgium from the first whistle.

Belgium’s H2H record is, however, emphatic. The 5-2 March 2026 friendly result is recent, directly relevant form. De Bruyne, Doku, Trossard and now Lukaku starting makes this a dangerous Belgian attack. Both sides have conceded just four goals in the tournament and both have consistently scored. A match with goals at both ends reflects the analytical middle ground between USA’s attacking home ambition and Belgium’s proven quality.

Our prediction: both teams to score.

Odds and market

Odds correct at 0200Hrs UTC on Tuesday,7^th July 2026.

How to bet on SportPesa

1. Open the USA vs Belgium event page on SportPesa (link above).
2. Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
3. Enter your stake and place your bet.

Frequently asked questions

What time does USA vs Belgium kick off?

Kick-off is at 02:00 SAST (Tuesday, 7 July 2026) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Is Folarin Balogun playing for the USA?

Yes. Balogun received a red card in the Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina but FIFA subsequently suspended his one-match ban, clearing him to play. He is expected to start against Belgium.

Is Romelu Lukaku starting for Belgium?

Yes. Lukaku has scored from the bench in two consecutive matches and has earned a starting place for this fixture. Charles De Ketelaere, who started the Senegal match, is expected to drop to the bench.

What is Belgium’s record against the USA?

Belgium have won six consecutive meetings against the USA, including a 5-2 friendly victory in March 2026. The USA’s only win in the history of the fixture came at the 1930 World Cup. Belgium also beat the USA 2-1 in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16 after extra time.

Have USA ever beaten Belgium?

Only once — a 3-0 win at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Belgium have won every meeting between the two nations since then, across six consecutive encounters spanning 1998 to 2026.

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