The Belgian team faces a crucial duel in the World Cup, a true “all or nothing”. The vital meeting against New Zealand, scheduled for 0am (Brasília time) in the early hours of Friday to Saturday (27), could seal a desolate end for a generation of talents such as Courtois, De Bruyne and Lukaku, who may be competing in their last World Cup. A negative result will mean the early exit of these stars in the group stage, an outcome that frustrates the high expectations created over the years for this squad.
Although the situation seems worrying, the numbers on the field highlight the seriousness of the challenge. Belgium have already made more than a thousand passes in this world championship, however, they only managed to score one goal, and that was an own goal, in the debut match. The team registered 38 shots on goal, but the poor aim against Egypt and the outstanding performance of the Iranian goalkeeper highlighted the lack of effectiveness. The high expectations for the team did not translate into performance, raising questions about the ability to convert ball possession into real scoring opportunities, a dilemma that affects many elite teams.
This edition of the World Cup appears as a likely farewell to iconic figures such as Courtois, De Bruyne and Lukaku from the world stage. The goalkeeper has already signaled the high probability of leaving the main team; the 34-year-old midfielder is the target of criticism from the Belgian press after the first two rounds; and the striker, number 9, is fighting physical problems that prevent him from reaching his best form in the championship. A negative turn of events, with the surprising elimination against New Zealand, classified as the lowest ranked team, would give a regrettable historical weight to the end of a cycle for these renowned athletes.
The performance of the support players has also not met expectations. Ngoy, who was doing well, made a mistake and was sent off in the match against Iran. Trossard is still looking for his best form on the field, and Tielemans has similar difficulties. Jeremy Doku, one of the most praised talents, has so far failed to stand out: he had a discreet participation in the first game, became ill and ended up missing from the team. The Manchester City striker, ironically, gained more visibility this week for traveling to attend the birth of his son than for his actual contributions on the field.
Among the most talked about teams in this edition of the World Cup, Belgium could become the first big disappointment. Teams such as Argentina and Brazil show consistency in their trajectory, while Germany, Spain, France, England and Portugal have already secured their places in advance in the next phase. Expectations for nations such as Japan, the Netherlands, Morocco and Norway also came true. Only the Belgian team is still struggling to confirm its presence, demonstrating a notable discrepancy in relation to other favorites and surprises in the competition.
One element that weighs in favor of Belgium is the fact that New Zealand arrived at the world tournament as the team with the worst FIFA ranking, in 85th place. Despite this, the group’s two previous matches were marked by upsets, with the New Zealanders almost achieving their first World Cup victory on both occasions: a thrilling draw against Iran and a comeback defeat in the final thirty minutes against Egypt. An unprecedented victory in this match could take New Zealand to the knockout stage for the first time in its history, highlighting that the FIFA rankings do not always reflect the true potential of a team in a short-term tournament.
Possibilities for the Belgium team to advance to the next stage of the tournament
A victory guarantees Belgium’s presence in the knockout stage. A draw could also be enough, either to win second place in the group (if Egypt overcomes Iran), or for a possible third place (depending on the results in other groups). However, if the Belgian team is defeated, they will be automatically eliminated from the competition.
Even if they manage to advance, Belgium could face difficult opponents in the knockout stage due to their below-expected performance in the initial stage. If they finish second or third in the group, the projection indicates that the team could face powers like Argentina or Portugal in the round of 16. To top the group, the team needs Egypt to suffer a setback and will have to overcome a two-goal difference in the current balance.