Senegal awaits Belgium in Seattle as Trossard brace books round of 32
Belgium draw Senegal in the last 32
Your next opponent is Senegal. Wednesday July 1, 22:00 in Seattle (1) (3) (7). It is the hardest option left on the table, Belgian outlets are not sugarcoating it: "De moeilijkste optie die overbleef" (6). Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations and have had a turbulent World Cup themselves, but the pedigree is real (9).
You got here by smashing New Zealand 5–1 on Friday. Leandro Trossard scored twice, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku got on the scoresheet, Alexis Saelemaekers added one too (11). After two draws and a wave of criticism, the team delivered when it had to.
The bracket opens up, but the left half is brutal
Belgium sit in the left half of the knockout bracket. If you get past Senegal, the path runs through the United States or Bosnia and Herzegovina next. It does not get easier from there, the left side is stacked (8).
€10.5 million banked so far
Reaching the round of 32 has already earned the Belgian FA €10.5 million in prize money. The real jackpot sits deeper in the tournament (4).
DR Congo made history and decided your fate
DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3–1 for their first ever World Cup win. Yoane Wissa and Fiston Mayele scored, Eldor Shomurodov replied for Uzbekistan (10). That result confirmed Senegal as the best third-placed team, which locked them in as Belgium's opponent. DR Congo now face England in their own last-32 tie (10).
Trossard's future uncertain after his World Cup brace
Leandro Trossard picked the right moment to bag two goals. But his Arsenal future is not settled, interest from clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia is circling (11). A strong World Cup might force Arsenal to make a call one way or the other.
Fan reactions
The mood among supporters on Reddit is cautious. Senegal is not the draw anyone wanted, but after the group stage this team just survived, there is relief more than panic. One fan summed it up simply: Belgium will play Senegal in Seattle. The conversation is already turning to what happens if you win.
Sources
- 1. nieuwsblad.be — Senegal wordt de tegenstander van de Rode Duivels in de 1/16de finales van het WK (en dat zagen onze lezers net niet graag gebeuren)
- 3. hln.be — Cristiano Ronaldo tegen Luka Modric en Congo tegen Engeland: dit is de tabel van de zestiende finales
- 4. sporza.be — Nu al een stevig miljoen extra: dit verdienden de Rode Duivels aan hun 1/16e finale op dit WK (en straks wacht de echte jackpot)
- 6. nieuwsblad.be — Senegal wordt de volgende tegenstander van de Rode Duivels: “De moeilijkste optie die overbleef”
- 7. hln.be — Dan toch een stevige affiche: Rode Duivels moeten voorbij Africa Cup-winnaar Senegal in 1/16de finales
- 8. sporza.be — België kan het volledige pad uitstippelen in loodzware linkerhelft: zo ziet de knock-outfase van het WK eruit
- 9. sporza.be — Op papier de zwaarste tegenstander: Rode Duivels treffen Senegal in 1/16e finales, officieuze Afrikaanse kampioen die woelig WK kent
- 10. sporza.be — Congo knalt zichzelf op historische avond naar 1/16e finales én velt verdict voor Rode Duivels, die Senegal ontmoeten
- 11. justarsenal.com — Opinion: Trossard’s World Cup brace poses awkward question for Arsenal over his future