Belgium secures knockout stage berth
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has addressed what he described as “ugly” criticism directed at his team following their 5-1 victory over New Zealand. The win, which took place in Vancouver, marked their first triumph in this summer’s tournament after drawing their initial two matches against Egypt and Iran. This result ensured Belgium progressed to the round of 32 as winners of Group G.
Garcia expressed his trust in his players and leaders, stating they had been heavily criticised. He emphasised that the team demonstrated their capabilities on the pitch, asserting that all Belgians should be proud of their players. He highlighted that the pitch is the only place to respond to such negativity, noting the team’s efficiency against New Zealand as a significant improvement compared to their match against Iran. Scoring goals, he added, changes everything, and securing a win by at least three goals was a sensible outcome given the close nature of all matches in their group.
The coach also mentioned that finishing first in the group means the team remains in Seattle for the next stage, though he was unsure if this was advantageous. The primary goal, he reiterated, was to reach the round of 32. He expressed hope that their World Cup campaign would now gain momentum.
Player performances and team strategy
Against New Zealand, Belgium saw four different players score, with Leandro Trossard netting a brace. Trossard, an Arsenal forward, has been one of the most scrutinised Belgian players in the tournament. However, Garcia lauded his performance, acknowledging his unpopularity within the national team but stressing that he responded effectively on the pitch. Garcia described Trossard as the best Belgian player since the start of the tournament, having asked him to be more decisive and take more chances in front of goal. He concluded by thanking supporters and stating the team plays for those proud to back the Red Devils.
The match saw Belgium deliver a dominant performance, overcoming what were described as two poor prior outings. New Zealand, conversely, struggled to get into the game at BC Place in Vancouver. Goals for Belgium came from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers, in addition to Trossard’s double. New Zealand managed to score one goal through Elijah Just, but ultimately exited the tournament bottom of their group with one point.
Despite their exit, New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley expressed pride in his team’s performance and work-rate, acknowledging they faced a very strong opponent. He noted that once they conceded, they had to adopt a more open style of play, making substitutions to bring on more attackers. Bazeley conveyed disappointment but highlighted the hard work and effort from his players, believing the experience would make them better for future tournaments. He also suggested that the expanded 48-team World Cup format means New Zealand, as the Oceania representative, will likely participate in the next tournament in four years.
The match also featured several notable moments. In the 90th minute, Belgium took a quick free-kick, with Onana unleashing a shot that went wide. Earlier, in the 86th minute, Lukaku scored with a bullet header following a brilliant clipped cross from Raskin, who had just entered the game. Belgium made two substitutions in the 71st minute, with goal-scorers De Bruyne and Trossard being replaced by Alexis Saelemaekers and Amadou Onana.
New Zealand had their moments, including a chance in the 55th minute when Eli Just ran past three Belgian players into the penalty area before his shot was saved by Courtois. The team also came close to scoring in the 76th minute after an interception led to a shot from Just that deflected for a corner. The game was not without controversy, as VAR denied Iran a stoppage-time winner in their 1-1 draw against Egypt in the other Group G match.
With Belgium securing first place, Egypt advanced to the round of 32 for the first time ever, holding onto second spot with their draw against Iran. Iran now awaits to see if they qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Belgium is set to play the third-placed team from Group A, I, or J, which could potentially be South Korea, Senegal, or Algeria.
Player ratings from the match reflected Belgium’s strong performance, with Romelu Lukaku receiving an average rating of 9.67, followed by Leandro Trossard with 8.93, and Kevin De Bruyne with 8.31. For New Zealand, Elijah Just received the highest average rating among his teammates at 5.64.
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”