Marjorie Carpréaux admitted she was a little anxious despite Belgium’s victory over Turkey, but said she never truly doubted the Cats’ ability to respond after a tight first half.
“Douté, non. J’étais un peu anxieuse vu la première mi-temps qui était quand même assez partagée, puisque la Turquie est quand même repassée à plus un en rentrant au vestiaire.”
Speaking after the game, Carpréaux said the win could help build momentum for the rest of the tournament, stressing that the team’s overall feeling was good and that the players who came off the bench made a valuable impact.
“Bien évidemment, il faut se sentir bien. Il ne faut pas simplement gagner. Ici, il y a un bon feeling. Je pense notamment aux joueuses venues du banc qui ont apporté de bonnes choses, qui ont peut-être rassuré le cinq de base.”
Asked who stood out most, she highlighted Julie Vanloo for her energy and determination, while also praising the team’s collective reaction.
“Je pense que Julie Vanloo a vraiment apporté de la rage, de l’envie. Mais je dirais également l’équipe, qui a eu une super réaction.”
Looking ahead, Carpréaux said the performance had increased her confidence in the Cats’ prospects at the tournament. Belgium now have a rest day before facing Puerto Rico, whom she described as less strong on paper than Turkey, though still a side that must be taken seriously.
“I have faith in them. But this definitely puts my mind at ease—especially knowing there’s a rest day coming up, and that the next opponent is Puerto Rico. On paper, they aren’t as strong as Turkey. They lack height and aren’t as effective from three-point range. They don’t really play a team game; it’s more of a “streetball” style, if you will. But that’s a style of play that doesn’t really suit Belgium, so we have to take them seriously.”