{"id":183363,"date":"2026-06-26T14:25:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nuevaonda.com\/belgium-is-on-the-ropes\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T14:32:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:32:18","slug":"belgium-is-on-the-ropes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nuevaonda.com\/en\/belgium-is-on-the-ropes\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgium is on the ropes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not even the fresh start brought about by the coaching change to Rudi Garc\u00eda, nor the enthusiastic preparation leading up to the World Cup<\/a>, could prevent the Belgian national team from facing yet another make-or-break situation on the final day of the group stage\u2014a match that could end in either disaster or relief in 90 minutes against New Zealand.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve learned their lesson from Qatar 2022, when a scoreless draw against Croatia sent them home amid a public conflict in their locker room. Now they have a conditional wild card in the form of a draw, which will only be enough if Iran loses to Egypt. But the only certainty is a win\u2014as is also the case for New Zealand, which has one point compared to Belgium\u2019s two. The winner will advance to the World Cup round of 16.<\/p>\n

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Belgium needs to wake up<\/h2>\n
\"Belgium
PHOTO: Instagram of the Belgium National Team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While this is an obvious and essential goal for Belgium\u2014which has scaled back its hopes of finishing first, though it could still do so if it wins\u2014it would be a tremendous success for its rival from Oceania.<\/p>\n

It has never advanced past the first round. It didn’t make it past that stage in Spain 1982 or in South Africa 2010. Now it can do so if it beats Belgium.<\/p>\n

There are many reasons for the Belgian team’s struggles; they have not led in a single game throughout the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n

Not even for a second. The main issue is his overall performance; he hasn’t been able to beat either of the two opponents he’s faced.<\/p>\n

Against Egypt, against whom they tied the score at one thanks to an own goal.<\/p>\n

And Iran, with key saves by the opposing goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, but also by their own goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, who once again kept Belgium at bay.<\/p>\n

On an individual level, he misses Kevin de Bruyne, especially that decisive edge he always had throughout an entire decade with Manchester City and the Belgian national team.<\/p>\n

Just like the goals scored by Romelu Lukaku, who has 90 goals in 128 games, but was sidelined for much of the year due to injuries and wasn’t in peak physical condition for the World Cup.<\/p>\n

In any case, he set up Belgium’s only goal just 14 seconds after stepping onto the field against Egypt (Filed under: Belgium vs. New Zealand).<\/p>\n

Doku returns to lead a Belgian team that has been forced to step up its game<\/h2>\n
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A post shared by Belgian Red Devils (@belgianreddevils)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n