First threesome: Belgium storms to win the group

After two disappointing draws, De Bruyne and Co. were under pressure to win in order to achieve promotion on their own. From the start, the Belgians restricted New Zealand in their half and created chance after chance. Trossard initially failed at the inside post (11th), but Finn Surmann blocked another shot from the winger with his hand on his body. The penalty initially given was conceded by VAR (22nd). The first goal was in the air and was reserved for the most conspicuous player. After a corner, Trossard put the ball into the net from close range (28th). The goal gave the New Zealanders, who had previously been completely harmless, a bit of a wake-up call, but there was no real danger.

Lukaku as a super joker

After the restart, Trossard put together his brace after an ideal pass from De Bruyne (50th). The Belgian playmaker himself scored the third goal. De Bruyne sank the ball into the bottom right corner from around 20 meters (67′). Elijah Just reduced the score to 1:3 in the final phase (84′) and temporarily pushed the Belgians off the top of the table. But striker Romelu Lukaku, who had been substituted seconds earlier, brought the “Red Devils” back on track for group victory with his 91st international goal, the sixth at a World Cup (86th).

Alexis Saelemaekers made everything clear deep into stoppage time (94′). In the round of 16, the Belgians will face an unknown group third party on Wednesday (10 p.m.). New Zealand remained without a win in their ninth World Cup game and were eliminated in fourth place.