Belgium have advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup 2026, topping Group G after a commanding 5-1 victory against New Zealand in Vancouver. The win, secured by a brace from Leandro Trossard, marked Belgium’s first triumph of the tournament following two draws in their opening matches.

The Red Devils demonstrated significant dominance throughout the match, recording 35 shots against New Zealand, who are the lowest-ranked side in the competition and have been eliminated after finishing at the bottom of their group. This emphatic performance ensures Belgium will proceed to the round of 32 as group winners, setting up a clash against a third-place finisher from either Group A, E, H, I, or J.

Trossard’s Double Leads the Way

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for Belgium in the 28th minute with a poacher’s finish from a corner. The Arsenal forward continued to be a threat, nearly scoring earlier in the 12th minute when his left-footed strike hit the inside of the far post. His second goal came just five minutes into the second half, a fine chest and volleyed finish that doubled Belgium’s lead.

The partnership between Trossard and Kevin De Bruyne was evident throughout the match. De Bruyne provided the corner for Trossard’s first goal and was involved in the build-up for the second. De Bruyne himself added Belgium’s third goal with a low strike, temporarily securing their position at the top of Group G.

However, New Zealand’s Elijah Just scored a consolation goal in the 84th minute, briefly pushing Belgium into the runners-up spot. This momentary shift was quickly rectified when Romelu Lukaku, coming on as a substitute, headed in a goal just 64 seconds after entering the pitch, restoring Belgium’s three-goal advantage. Fellow substitute Alexis Saelemaekers then added a fifth goal in stoppage time, sealing Belgium’s dominant win and ensuring they avoided consecutive group-stage exits from the World Cup.

Managerial Reactions and What’s Next

Belgium boss Rudi Garcia praised his team’s performance, particularly highlighting the contributions of his experienced players. He noted that while they haven’t won anything yet, progressing to the next phase as group winners, especially with a significant goal difference, was crucial. Garcia expressed trust in his players and leaders, stating that their answer to any doubts was delivered on the pitch.

For New Zealand, manager Darren Bazeley reflected on the challenge of facing Belgium. He acknowledged that the draw had positioned them to potentially face a strong Belgium side already on six points, which could have worked in their favour if they had secured points in their earlier games. Bazeley stated that his team tried to get back into the game and were not content with merely defending a 2-0 loss, despite being punished with further goals.

Bazeley expressed optimism about the future of his squad, noting that many of his players are young and will gain valuable experience from this World Cup campaign. He believes they will learn from this experience and be better prepared for future tournaments, both individually at their clubs and collectively as a national team. The defeat, he added, should hurt, as it occurred on the World Cup stage.

The victory means Belgium will play their round of 32 match on Wednesday, July 1, in Seattle. This match will be against one of the best third-placed teams from other groups. Meanwhile, Egypt, who drew 1-1 with Iran in their final group game, qualified in second place and will face Australia in Dallas on July 3.

Source: skysports.com

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