Belgium Roars Back to Life with 5-1 Thrashing of New Zealand at World Cup

Belgium Roars Back to Life with 5-1 Thrashing of New Zealand at World Cup

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The Belgian Red Devils have stormed back to life at the World Cup after a dominating 5-1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver on Friday. With a double strike from Arsenal's star player Leandro Trossard and crucial goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers, the team has booked their place in the knockout rounds.

The victory marked Belgium's first win of the tournament and secured their position at the top of Group G. Egypt claimed the runners-up spot after a 1-1 draw with Iran in Seattle, while the Iranians finished third in the group.

The match saw a lopsided first half, with Belgium dominating the proceedings. New Zealand had alarm bells ringing in the 9th minute when Trossard's angled shot cannoned of the inside of the upright only to be cleared off the line by Tyler Binden. The Red Devils looked poised to take the lead moments later when Jordanian referee Adham Mohammad pointed to the penalty spot after Trossard's shot hit the arm of covering defender Finn Surman. But VAR sent Mohammad to the monitor to take another look at the decision, which was subsequently overturned and New Zealand breathed again.

Yet Belgium did not have long to wait before the breakthrough, and again it was Trossard who proved to be in the right place at the right time, bundling home from close range after De Bruyne's corner sowed panic in the six-yard box. Trossard effectively made the game safe five minutes into the second half, controlling a rebound in a crowded area to volley home past New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe at the near post.

De Bruyne then stroked home an elegant low finish in the 66th minute to make it 3-0, a crucial goal which saw the Belgians leapfrog over Egypt into first place on goal difference. Yet there was to be a dramatic end when New Zealand's Elijah Just volleyed home a consolation strike from the edge of the area to make it 3-1. That could have been potentially costly, with the goal suddenly bumping Belgium down into second place. But Lukaku nodded home his team's fourth in the 86th minute with his first touch just a minute after coming on as a substitute to return Belgium to the top of the table. Saelemaekers completed the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area.

As the Red Devils celebrated their win, it marked a significant turnaround for the team, who had been struggling to find their footing in the tournament. With this victory, they have given themselves a crucial edge ahead of their next matches.

Who are the Red Devils?

The Red Devils of Belgium are one of the most successful teams in the history of the World Cup. With a team comprising of top-notch players like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Eden Hazard, they have consistently shown a high level of skill and determination. The team has been in existence since 1904 and has won a record 11 World Cup titles. The team's name 'The Red Devils' is derived from the red color of their uniforms and their reputation for being fierce and formidable opponents on the field.

What are the key statistics from

the match?

• Belgium scored a total of 5 goals in the match, with Trossard scoring two and De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Saelemaekers scoring one each.
• The match was played in front of a crowd of 38,000 at the BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
• The average time of possession for Belgium was 65% of the total match time.
• New Zealand had a total of 11 corners throughout the match, compared to Belgium's 6.

What happens next for Belgium?

With their win, Belgium has secured their place in the knockout rounds of the tournament. They will be facing off against the winner of the match between Saudi Arabia and Argentina in the next round.