Belgium celebrated their first World Cup match triumph since their 1-0 win against Canada on November 23, 2022, which saw a goal from Michy Batshuayi. Demonstrating a clear collective and technical advantage, the Red Devils comfortably overcame New Zealand (4-1, later corrected to 5-1 in subsequent paragraphs), having launched an impressive 16 shots, with four on target, in the opening half.

Leandro Trossard, arguably Belgium’s most consistent performer throughout the competition, broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, alertly converting from within the six-yard box. The Arsenal attacker capitalized on a misjudgment by New Zealand’s right-back Tim Payne, whose attention was solely on his marker, missing the ball as it deflected off his back.

Earlier, Trossard had already come close, striking the post with a fierce shot in the 11th minute, which Tyler Bindon eventually cleared from the goal line. He also initiated a penalty claim when his close-range effort was blocked by Finn Surnam’s left arm. However, the Jordanian referee, after a VAR review, correctly rescinded the penalty, deeming the defender’s arm to be in a “natural position” in the 20th minute.

With two playmakers, Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken, orchestrating attacks from behind the forwards in a 4-3-3 setup, Belgium posed a constant threat. Despite their dangerous play, a sense of calm was sought at halftime to ease any event-related tension, especially after they had already moved into second place in the group. The focus for the second half was on refining their coordination in the final third and, critically, improving their finishing touch.

Second-half surge secures lead

Jérémy Doku, struggling for consistent rhythm and impact, managed to create some individual moments of brilliance on the flanks, predominantly on the left. However, his final pass or shot often lacked precision. Charles De Ketelaere, meanwhile, seemed to lack the instinctive aggression needed in the opposition’s penalty area to provide a comfortable cushion for his teammates, who had allowed New Zealand a bit too much freedom towards the end of the first half.

Yet, Trossard emphatically settled any lingering nerves, converting a De Bruyne assist in two attempts after Tyler Bindon’s initial block for New Zealand, making it 2-0 in the 50th minute. Coach Rudi Garcia then made a strategic change, replacing Jérémy Doku with Matias Fernandez-Pardo in the 56th minute to introduce more speed and attacking depth.

The LOSC forward failed to capitalize on a superb counter-attack orchestrated by De Bruyne and Trossard, sending his shot off target in the 65th minute. Nevertheless, Belgium’s star, De Bruyne, delivered a decisive blow, recovering a ball won by Trossard near the New Zealand penalty area before unleashing a perfectly angled shot past goalkeeper Max Crocombe (3-0, 67th minute). This marked his thirtieth goal for the national team, a strike that put Belgium firmly at the top of the group, benefiting from a superior goal difference as Egypt was held to a 1-1 draw by Iran.

In injury time, Alexis Saelemaekers further extended the lead to 5-1 (90th + 4), expertly converting a cross-shot after receiving an assist from the Napoli striker, who has seen only 64 minutes of club action this season. This comprehensive victory secured Belgium the top position in the group due to their superior goal difference.

The initial objective has been achieved, providing immense reassurance and liberating the Belgian squad from any lingering pressure. The team will now embark on the next stage of the tournament from their desired base camp in Seattle, brimming with renewed optimism and ambition. While their Round of 16 opponent is yet to be confirmed, the match date is set for Wednesday at 10 PM.

Egypt fiercely contested every moment, fending off the relentless attacks of a surprisingly tenacious Iranian team, to secure their second-place standing in Group G. This was particularly crucial as Belgium had already claimed the top spot with their dominant win over New Zealand. Maintaining a 1-1 draw against Iran this Friday evening proved to be a nail-biting encounter, with the Pharaohs visibly struggling with nerves in the final seconds. However, destiny seemed to favor them: Khalilzadeh’s goal in the 90th + 3 minute was disallowed for a fractional offside, and Ezatolahi’s header in the 90th + 6 minute was heroically denied by the crossbar.

The Egyptians endured a terrifying ordeal, collapsing onto the pitch in sheer relief at the final whistle, overjoyed by their historic achievement. They had secured a spot in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time ever. The match itself was exceedingly difficult, despite a promising start with Mahmoud Saber’s opening goal in the 5th minute, a fortunate shot that found its way through a crowded Iranian defense.