SEATTLE (AP) — By advancing to the knockout round atop Group G, Belgium has already improved upon its woeful performance at the World Cup four years ago.
After a historic third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Belgium did not advance past the group stage in 2022 in Qatar.
With its 5-1 victory over New Zealand on Friday night, Belgium won its group and achieved what coach Rudi Garcia wanted from his club.
Ahead of Wednesday’s knockout round match against Senegal, Garcia expressed satisfaction with his group’s accomplishments, as well as a desire for more.
Belgium won one game and played to two draws in group play.
“We wanted to finish first in the group stage and we succeeded,” Garcia said in French.
“Of course we wanted to win more — we know the story of our World Cup so far.
Now it is time for the knockout phase.
But, you have to beat them, too, if you want to go far in a World Cup.” For Belgium’s participation in the tournament to be considered a success, it must first get by a Senegal team that finished third in Group I with three points and a plus-2 goal differential.
The African team navigated one of the toughest groups in the tournament, one that featured favorite France and the Erling Haaland-led Norway.