Belgium thrash New Zealand to win Group G

At a glance

  • Leandro Trossard scores Belgium's first two goals in dominant display

  • Kevin de Bruyne drills in the third from 20 yards

  • New Zealand pull one back through Elijah Just but Romelu Lukaku adds Belgium's fourth moments later

  • Alexis Saelemaekers makes it five in stoppage time

  • Belgium progress as Group G winners, New Zealand are out

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Leandro Trossard scored twice as Belgium booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage with a dominant win over New Zealand.

In a must-win game for both sides, Belgium shook off two lacklustre displays to start the tournament and showed their superiority from the first whistle in Vancouver.

Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute as New Zealand allowed a Kevin de Bruyne corner to bounce in the six-yard box, allowing the Arsenal forward to finish from close range after the ball had bounced off the back of defender Tim Payne.

Rudi Garcia's side could have been out of sight by half-time but it was not until five minutes after the break that they got their second.

De Bruyne punched a pass into Trossard, his first shot was blocked but he volleyed the follow-up in smartly at the near post.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 66th minute when De Bruyne drilled a crisp left-foot shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

New Zealand got a goal back as Elijah Just thumped in his third goal of the tournament but Belgium's three-goal lead was restored moments later as Romelu Lukaku headed in just 56 seconds after coming off the bench.

Another substitute, Alexis Saelemaekers, added an extra shine to the scoreline as he slotted in the fifth in injury time.

With Egypt failing to beat Iran, Belgium top Group G on goal difference and will face a third-placed team in the last 32 on Wednesday (21:00 BST).

Meanwhile, New Zealand bow out of their third World Cup after taking just one point from three games.

De Bruyne gets off the mark with trademark strike

Trossard and De Bruyne lead the way as Belgium show up

It has taken until the last game of the group stage, but Belgium have finally arrived at this World Cup.

While they may not be the side they once were, with those remaining from that golden generation of 2018 now approaching the end of their careers, more was still expected than what they managed against Egypt and Iran.

The manner in which they dismantled a battling, but ultimately outclassed, New Zealand showed just why.

There was an intensity to their play which had been sorely lacking to this point, and the sharpness of their one-touch passing around the penalty area meant the All Whites were clinging on within just a couple of minutes of kick-off.

Trossard was relentless, his direct approach every time he got the ball causing huge problems for the defenders - and with the masterful De Bruyne supplying him, those moments came frequently.

One such combination between the pair led to the award of a Belgium penalty for handball - overturned following a VAR intervention - and De Bruyne had a hand in both Trossard's goals before essentially ending the contest by scoring the third himself.

The quality of the opposition will only get stronger from this point, but if Trossard and De Bruyne can maintain this kind of form then Belgium may yet make a telling impact on this tournament.

What's next for these teams?

Having booked their place in the last 32, Belgium must now wait to see who they will face in Seattle on Wednesday (21:00 BST).

As things stand, South Korea will be their opponents but that could all change with three groups still to be completed.

New Zealand have been knocked out.

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