'Maybe we needed it' - Belgium manager Martinez optimistic despite World Cup defeat

Roberto Martinez said 'maybe we needed it' after Belgium lost 2-1 to Egypt in their last game before heading to Qatar for the World Cup.

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Goals from Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet condemned Belgium to a second consecutive defeat, despite Lois Openda's late withdrawal in Kuwait.

Belgium are ranked second in the world, but looked far off the pace on Friday and a shadow of the side that made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018.

However, Martinez hopes the poor performance and loss will come as a shock to his team, telling VTM after the game: "It wasn't the result or the performance we wanted, but maybe we needed it.< /p>

"We showed that we were waiting for the start of the World Cup, but not that we were ready.

"We're going to have to make sure every player is ready for what it takes. Because you can't go to a tournament like this and expect to perform if you're not at your best level."

The loss to Egypt, a team that did not qualify for the World Cup, comes just five days before Belgium's opener against Canada.

Friday's encounter was also their first since a Nations League loss to the Netherlands in September, with many of Martinez's players still playing for their clubs last weekend.

The head coach regretted the lack of preparation time given to him by the fixture list, adding: "In principle, you need around five weeks to prepare for the World Cup, but that's not is simply not possible."

Substitute Dries Mertens echoed Martinez's positivity, saying: "Losing isn't ideal, but it's good that we played again. There's still work to do, but it'll be fine.< /p>

"It's better for this to happen now than at the World Cup."

After the game against Canada, Belgium will next face Morocco and Croatia in Group F.