Belgium thrash New Zealand 5-1 to reach last 16 as coach Garcia slams 'has been' label on veterans

Match recap

Belgium sealed first place in Group G with a comprehensive 5-1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver on Friday night. After two scoreless draws against Egypt and Iran, the Red Devils needed a victory by a three-goal margin to be sure of topping the group, and they delivered. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute, capitalising on hesitant defending, and added a second just after the break. Kevin De Bruyne then curled a left-footed shot into the net for 3-0, before the All Whites pulled one back through a counter-attack that briefly threatened Belgium's first place. Romelu Lukaku headed in a fourth in the 86th minute to settle any nerves.

Garcia's broadside

When the final whistle blew, head coach Rudi Garcia did not just celebrate qualification. The Frenchman turned on the Belgian press, who had heavily criticized his squad, especially veterans De Bruyne and Lukaku, after the earlier stalemates.

“I really didn’t like that they were called has beens. When you have players of that calibre in a nation … you encourage them.”

Garcia insisted he had not read the coverage himself but that it had been relayed to him from France. He added that the only place to answer was on the pitch.

Veteran resurgence

De Bruyne delivered a goal and an assist, while Lukaku scored and set up another. Trossard’s brace was central to the rout. Garcia made a pointed remark in the post-match press conference:

“That’s what the old men of Belgium have done.”

He stressed his dream of a 'sortie par la grande porte', a grand exit, for his leaders, signalling how much he values them.

Road ahead

Now Belgium head to Seattle for a round-of-16 tie on Wednesday against one of the best third-placed teams, to be determined after Saturday’s final group matches. If they advance, a quarter-final against co-hosts the United States or Bosnia and Herzegovina awaits. Garcia knows the victory in Vancouver has reset the narrative but, as he noted, the World Cup does not 'start now', it needs to accelerate.