Belgium advances to knockout stages
Belgium has secured its place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages, finishing as winners of Group G after a decisive 5-1 victory against New Zealand. The match, held in Vancouver, saw a strong performance from the Belgian side, who had drawn their previous two group games. This win marks their first of the tournament and propels them to the top of their group based on goal difference.
The team’s success means they will now face a third-place finisher from either Group A, E, H, I, or J in the round of 32. This upcoming match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, with a 9pm UK time kick-off in Seattle.
Trossard’s double leads the charge
Leandro Trossard was a key player in Belgium’s commanding performance, scoring two goals. His first came in the 28th minute, a breakthrough from a corner that put Belgium ahead 1-0. Trossard continued to threaten, having an earlier left-footed strike hit the inside of the far post and another effort deflected onto the roof of the net after a pass from Kevin De Bruyne.
The Arsenal forward then doubled Rudi Garcia’s side’s lead just five minutes into the second half with a chest and volleyed finish. Trossard played for 72 minutes in the match, contributing significantly to Belgium’s offensive efforts.
Other goals for Belgium came from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers, ensuring they ended the group stage in style. De Bruyne’s low strike initially put Belgium on course to win Group G, though an 84th-minute consolation goal from Elijah Just of Motherwell briefly pushed them into the runners-up spot. However, Lukaku, coming on as a substitute, headed in a goal just 64 seconds later to restore Belgium’s three-goal lead. Saelemaekers then added a fifth goal in stoppage time, solidifying Belgium’s position as group winners.
Belgium was dominant throughout the match, recording 35 shots against New Zealand, who are now eliminated from the World Cup after finishing at the bottom of Group G. New Zealand’s coach, Darren Bazeley, acknowledged the challenge, stating that while they had hoped to pick up points in their first two games, they were punished for trying to get back into the game against Belgium. He expressed optimism for his young squad, noting that many players would be back in four years and would learn from the experience.
Looking ahead for Belgium and other teams
Belgium’s victory means they avoid consecutive group-stage exits from the World Cup, a significant achievement for the team. Coach Rudi Garcia praised his players, particularly the experienced members, for their performance. He noted that while they haven’t won anything yet, they are growing into the tournament and gaining momentum.
Meanwhile, Spain has also advanced, following a 1-0 win over Uruguay, and will play their last 32 encounter against the runner-up of Group J on Thursday, July 2. Mikel Merino played 60 minutes in that match, while David Raya and Martin Zubimendi were unused substitutes.
In another fixture, France and Norway both progressed to the knockout stages, with William Saliba and Martin Odegaard remaining unused substitutes in their match. Four England internationals, including Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Declan Rice, are scheduled to be in action tonight with a 10pm kick-off against Panama.
The outcome of the Iran versus Egypt match also had implications for Group G. Iran initially appeared to be joining Belgium in the last-32 as runners-up when Shoja Khalilzadeh scored a goal deep into stoppage time. However, the goal was disallowed by VAR for a marginal offside, meaning Egypt will now face Australia in the next round. Iran faces an anxious wait to see if they will progress, with current projections indicating they would face Switzerland in Vancouver.
Belgium’s next match in the round of 32 is set for Wednesday, July 1.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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