Belgium held 0–0 by Iran, Garcia on the brink

Belgium 0–0 Iran, two points from two games

Your team could not break through. Belgium drew 0–0 with Iran at Lumen Field on Sunday, and that means two points from the first two Group G matches (1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (9) (15). Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves and was named Player of the Match. No spark, no goal. The opener against Egypt finished 1–1, so Belgium are winless heading into the final group game.

Egypt beat New Zealand 1–3 and now lead Group G

Egypt took care of business. Mohamed Salah scored, Mahmoud Trezeguet added another, and Egypt beat New Zealand 1–3 on Sunday (1) (8) (9) (14) (15) (18). Mostafa Ziko also got on the scoresheet. Finn Surman pulled one back for New Zealand, but Egypt now sit top of Group G with four points. Belgium are in third.

Belgian media slaughter the performance

"What are we even doing here?" That is the question Belgian press are asking after two draws (2) (4). Kicker was blunt: "A generation in which nothing is golden anymore" (17). Another German piece ran the same line (12). Courtois and Lukaku are still out there, but the tone coming from home sounds like a team out of ideas.

Zlatan fell asleep and then went in

Zlatan Ibrahimovic admitted he fell asleep during Belgium-Iran. When he woke up, he did not hold back. "If they think they'll qualify because of the names on their shirts, they're mistaken," he said (6). Other international analysts were just as sharp.

Rudi Garcia: win or you're out

The math is simple. "Win the next one or no more head coach," wrote Het Nieuwsblad's chief football writer about Rudi Garcia (3). Two points from six. Group stage elimination is a real possibility, and Garcia is carrying the blame.

All scenarios still on the table for the final matchday

Belgium play New Zealand on the final matchday. Win big, and hope Egypt stumble against Iran, that is the path to the knockout stage (1) (9) (15). Group win is still possible. So is crashing out in disgrace. Everything rides on one game.

Fan reactions

Nobody is celebrating a goalkeeper-of-the-match award against Iran. The standout post on r/soccer was Beiranvand's stat line, seven saves, all from inside the box, and Belgian fans are reading that as a damning summary of the attack, not a goalkeeping masterclass. The mood is shifting fast from cautious optimism to genuine fear of an early exit. A bizarre post analysing Belgium's results by religious and political groupings captured the absurdity of the moment, but the frustration underneath it is real. Link