With a display of technical mastery and overwhelming pressure, Belgique dismantled Nouvelle-Zélande with a 5-1 scoreline this Friday. This commanding performance, paired with a 1-1 stalemate between Égypte and Iran, ensured the Diables Rouges finished at the summit of Group G. Meanwhile, the Pharaons celebrated a milestone of their own, securing a spot in the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time ever.
Belgium finds its rhythm after the break
The Belgian squad finally tasted World Cup success again, their first since a narrow win over Canada in 2022. From the opening whistle, they dictated the tempo, unleashing a barrage of 16 shots in the first half alone. Leandro Trossard, arguably the most consistent performer for his side in this tournament, opened the scoring in the 28th minute. He capitalized on a defensive lapse from Tim Payne to poke the ball home from close range.
The Arsenal forward was a constant threat, having already struck the post early on and seeing a penalty shout overturned by VAR after it was deemed that Finn Surnam’s handball was in a natural position. Despite the narrow lead at halftime, the tactical setup with Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken provided the creative spark needed to keep the opposition on the back foot.
Clinical finishing seals the victory
The second half saw Belgique pull away. Leandro Trossard doubled his tally in the 50th minute after Kevin De Bruyne set him up. Seeking to maintain the intensity, Rudi Garcia introduced Matias Fernandez-Pardo for Jérémy Doku to add more verticality to the attack. Kevin De Bruyne eventually got on the scoresheet himself, firing a low shot past Max Crocombe in the 67th minute for his 30th international goal.
Although Elijah Just managed to pull one back for Nouvelle-Zélande in the 84th minute, the Belgian response was swift. Romelu Lukaku, coming off the bench, headed home a precise cross from Nicolas Raskin to mark his 91st goal for the national team. Alexis Saelemaekers added a fifth in stoppage time, rounding off a dominant performance that confirmed their status as group winners on goal difference.
Egypt survives late drama to progress
In a parallel battle of nerves, Égypte fought tooth and nail to protect their second-place standing. The match against Iran was a rollercoaster of emotions that began brightly when Mahmoud Saber’s early strike found the net through a crowd of defenders. However, the lead was short-lived as Rezaeian equalized just minutes after Mostafa Shobeir had heroically saved a penalty from Taremi.
The final stages were particularly grueling for the Pharaons. Iran pushed desperately for a winner that would have changed the group’s hierarchy. They thought they had found it in the dying seconds, but a Khalilzadeh goal was ruled out for a marginal offside, and a late header from Ezatolahi rattled the crossbar. At the final whistle, the Egyptian players collapsed in relief and joy, having finally broken their knockout stage curse. Iran, finishing third, must now wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.