Belgium finally celebrated a World Cup win, their first since November 23, 2022, when Michy Batshuayi’s goal secured a 1-0 victory over Canada. Demonstrating clear collective and technical superiority, the Red Devils dominated New Zealand with a 4-1 triumph. Their first half was marked by an onslaught of shots, with 16 attempts, four of which were on target.

Leandro Trossard, consistently one of Belgium’s most impactful field players throughout the tournament, broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error within the six-yard box. The Arsenal forward pounced on a poorly cleared ball by right-back Tim Payne, whose focus on marking rather than the bouncing ball led directly to the opening goal.

Prior to his goal, Trossard had already come close, hitting the post with a powerful cross-shot in the 11th minute, which was eventually cleared off the line by Tyler Bindon. He also initiated a penalty appeal when his close-range shot was blocked by Finn Surnam’s left arm. However, the Jordanian referee, after a VAR review, correctly overturned the decision, ruling the defender’s arm to be in a “natural” position in the 20th minute.

Operating in a 4-3-3 formation, Belgium displayed dangerous attacking intent with playmakers Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken linking up effectively behind the forwards. Despite their cohesive play, the team sought greater composure at halftime to alleviate any match-related tension, even as they had already climbed to second in the group. The focus for the second half was clear: refine their coordination in the final third and, crucially, improve their finishing.

A liberating second-half surge

Jeremy Doku, despite making some penetrating runs down the flanks, primarily on the left, often lacked the final touch of precision in his decision-making. Charles De Ketelaere, meanwhile, seemed to lack the instinctive ruthlessness needed in the opposition box to provide a comfortable lead for his teammates, who had allowed New Zealand a little too much freedom towards the end of the first half.

However, Trossard once again proved decisive, converting a two-part play following a precise assist from De Bruyne, after an initial shot was blocked by Tyler Bindon of New Zealand (2-0, 50th minute). Coach Rudi Garcia then opted to inject fresh impetus, replacing Jeremy Doku with Matias Fernandez-Pardo in the 56th minute to enhance pace and depth.

The Lille striker, Fernandez-Pardo, couldn’t quite convert an excellent counter-attack orchestrated by De Bruyne and Trossard, as his shot missed the target in the 65th minute. Nevertheless, Belgium’s star player, Kevin De Bruyne, delivered a knockout blow by seizing a ball won by Trossard outside the New Zealand box, then firing a low shot past goalkeeper Max Crocombe (3-0, 67th minute). This marked his thirtieth international goal, propelling Belgium to the top of the group thanks to a superior goal difference, as Egypt was held to a 1-1 draw by Iran.

In added time, Alexis Saelemaekers extended Belgium’s lead to 5-1 (90th + 4) with a well-placed cross-shot, assisted by the Napoli striker, who had only seen 64 minutes of club action this season. This comprehensive victory secured Belgium the top spot in the group due to their superior goal difference.

The initial objective has been successfully met, providing significant reassurance and liberating the Belgian squad from lingering pressure. The team will now begin a new phase of the tournament, remaining at their Seattle base camp, as hoped. With fresh perspectives and renewed ambitions, Belgium awaits their Round of 16 opponent, with the match scheduled for Wednesday at 10 PM.

Egypt fought relentlessly until the final moments, fending off a surprisingly persistent Iranian side, to secure their second-place position in Group G. This came after Belgium had already cemented their first-place finish with their dominant win over New Zealand. The Pharaohs desperately needed to hold onto their 1-1 draw against Iran this Friday evening, and doubt visibly crept in during the match’s closing stages. Yet, fate seemed to favor them: Khalilzadeh’s goal in the 90th + 3 minute was disallowed due to a marginal offside, and Ezatolahi’s powerful header struck the crossbar in the 90th + 6 minute, denying Iran a dramatic winner.

The Egyptians experienced intense relief, prostrating themselves on the pitch at the final whistle, overjoyed by the outcome. They had, for the first time in their history, qualified for the knockout phase of a World Cup. Despite this historic achievement, the match itself proved exceptionally challenging, even though it began promisingly with Mahmoud Saber’s early goal in the 5th minute, a shot that found its way through a crowded Iranian defense.