Debast out, Belgium face Senegal after 5–1 rout of New Zealand

Belgium smash New Zealand 5–1, win the group

Your team delivered when it mattered. Belgium 5–1 New Zealand, and the group is yours (1) (2) (3). Lukaku, De Bruyne, Trossard, and Vanaken all got on the scoresheet (4) (5). Debast started and made it through, which matters given what came after (3). Senegal await in the Round of 32 on Wednesday.

Debast ruled out for the rest of the World Cup

Zeno Debast will not play again at this tournament (1). The defender went off injured against New Zealand and the news is definitive. He turns 23 during the knockout stage, but he will be watching from the stands. Debast himself stayed upbeat: "If we are at our best, we can show something against Senegal" (11).

Senegal on Wednesday in Seattle

Kickoff is Wednesday July 1 at 22:00 Belgian time (1) (11). The venue is Seattle. Peter Vandenbempt flagged the unusual timing of this matchup: "Normally you only meet Senegal later in the tournament" (11). Chelsea will be watching closely, Mamadou Sarr and Nicolas Jackson both start for Senegal (13).

The group meeting that changed everything

Before the New Zealand match, the squad held a players-only meeting without Rudi Garcia (2). Garcia encouraged it. Whatever was said, it worked. The team that had drawn twice in a row came out and scored five.

Vanaken and De Bruyne, the midfield key

The pairing worked. Hans Vanaken alongside Kevin De Bruyne gave Belgium control and creativity (3). Expect it again against Senegal. One analyst put it simply: Garcia should focus his energy on his own team, not the opponent (5).

Shots leader, 1.6% chance

Belgium fired 73 shots across the group stage, more than anyone else at this World Cup (7). A supercomputer gives your team a 1.6% chance of winning it all (12). Small number, but bigger than it was before the New Zealand result.

Trossard misses training

Leandro Trossard was absent from the latest session (4). No reason given yet. De Bruyne and Debast walked through a guard of honour, De Bruyne celebrating his birthday (4).