The Red Devils beat New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver, reaching the Round of 32 as Group G winners after their strongest performance of the tournament so far. Leandro Trossard scored twice, while Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers also struck for Belgium. Elijah Just scored New Zealand’s consolation. Belgium finally turned pressure into power at the FIFA World Cup.
For Belgium, this was more than a win. It was a release.
They had entered their final group match under pressure after a slow start to the tournament. But with qualification and top spot on the line, they produced the kind of attacking performance their campaign had been waiting for.
Trossard carried the spark. The Arsenal forward opened the scoring in the 28th minute, punishing New Zealand after Belgium’s early pressure.
Trossard Breaks The Game Open
New Zealand knew victory could take them into the knockouts, but Belgium’s quality eventually overwhelmed them.
Trossard scored again five minutes after the restart, turning a tense qualification fight into a Belgian statement. De Bruyne then added the third in the 66th minute, putting the result beyond New Zealand’s reach.
Elijah Just briefly gave New Zealand something to hold from the night when he scored in the 84th minute. But Belgium answered almost immediately.
Lukaku made it 4-1 in the 86th minute, before Saelemaekers completed the rout in stoppage time. The result sent Belgium through as group winners and ended New Zealand’s tournament.
Belgium Take Control Of Group G
Belgium’s win lifted them above Egypt and into first place in Group G. FIFA says the Red Devils will now meet a third-placed team from Group A, E, H, I or J in Seattle on July 1.
That route is their reward for finally finding fluency.
Belgium had looked short of sharpness earlier in the group, but this performance brought their major names into the tournament. Trossard gave them edge. De Bruyne gave them control. Lukaku gave them penalty-box authority.
Published match reports said Lukaku’s goal moved him to the top of Belgium’s World Cup scoring list. FIFA also noted another Belgian milestone, with Thibaut Courtois making his 18th World Cup appearance to move clear of Enzo Scifo for Belgium tournament appearances.
New Zealand Exit Without Historic Win
For New Zealand, the result closed another World Cup campaign without a first finals victory.
The All Whites had entered the final group match with a route still open. But Belgium’s second-half surge exposed the gap once the game stretched.
New Zealand finished bottom of the group with one point and remained without a World Cup finals win.
Belgium now move on with momentum. New Zealand go home with regret.
The Red Devils arrived under scrutiny. They left as group winners, with five goals, a Trossard statement, major names on the scoresheet and a warning to whoever meets them next.
