Read 4 minutesJune 27, 2026 01:43 PM IST
Going into their final group match, Belgium were the most dismal top-10 team on display. It took him four games and seven hours to open his 2026 World Cup goal tally – his strike against Egypt was an own goal.
But Leandro Trossard opened the floodgates when it was needed most. The Arsenal forward finally turned his excellent form into a final-third success as Belgium beat New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver. Rudy Garcia’s men advanced to the round of 32 as the top team in Group G following a 1-1 draw between Egypt and Iran in Seattle.
Trossard created five chances for midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne in the 0-0 draw with Iran and, according to Opta figures, had a total of nine before the tournament. A lack of clinicality in finishing, however, plagued the ninth-placed outfit’s cause. On Saturday, the 31-year-old changed that.
He made the first fling in the 11th minute with a left-footed shot that clattered the far post and was kept out by All Whites centre-back Tyler Bindon. Another chance arose in the 21st as Trossard’s effort was blocked by the arm of Finn Surman and referee Adham Makhdameh pointed to the spot for handball. Video review came in and the defender’s arm was deemed to be in a natural position.
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Trossard was third time lucky when responding to De Bruyne’s corner. New Zealand clumsily let the ball bounce into the box and the winger happily smashed it into the roof of the net in the 28th minute. The breakthrough had come.
Although there were no further goals in the first half, the traffic was completely one-sided. Belgium had 15 shots on goal in the period to New Zealand’s zero.
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The Red Devils’ efforts paid off on the restart. Trossard finished second in 50th place; Enjoying plenty of space inside the 18-yard box, his initial shot rebounded off the All White defenders and the Premier League winner pulled the trigger decisively again this time.
A month earlier, Trossard had (finally) won the title for the Gunners against West Ham and reached the Champions League final with them. Recent reports suggest that he is being linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer, and his World Cup heroics certainly won’t do the striker’s stock any harm.
Meanwhile, De Bruyne – Belgium’s top scorer in qualifying – late on with a sterling left-footed finish, past custodian Max Crocombe, joined the party in the 67th minute. The scoreline read 3-0 and the result was a foregone conclusion. Job done, Trossard and De Bruyne were eliminated in the 72nd.
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Elijah then beat Thibaut Courtois, who was making his national record 18th World Cup appearance, to score a crucial consolation goal for New Zealand in the 84th. Decisive, as it temporarily put Egypt ahead of Belgium in Group G.
But like in the campaign opener, substitute Romelu Lukaku was to make an instant impact again. Brought on in the 85th, De Bruyne’s Napoli team-mate responded strongly by scoring with his first touch. He was set up by fellow sub Nicholas Ruskin, who also had his first touch of the game.
Lukaku then set up Alexis Selemaker, who slammed home the fifth moments before the final whistle to seal Belgium’s biggest win of the World Cup. Likewise, the side avoided the risk of an early exit to climb to the top of the group. And they had Trossard to thank for that.