Arsenal star shines as Belgium thrashes New Zealand to top World Cup group
Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 in a dominant World Cup performance.
- Arsenal star Leandro Trossard scored twice and was praised for his offensive contributions.
- The win secured Belgium's group victory and a spot in the knockout stage against South Korea.
Belgium's World Cup campaign found its stride with a resounding 5-1 victory over New Zealand, a performance that saw Arsenal's Leandro Trossard shine. After struggling to find the net in their opening matches, the Belgian team unleashed an offensive onslaught, with Trossard at the forefront.
Trossard opened the scoring from a corner and later added a spectacular second goal with a volley. His intelligent play and offensive involvement drew praise from former England striker Dion Dublin, who highlighted Trossard's ability to create danger. Kevin De Bruyne further extended Belgium's lead, capitalizing on Trossard's influence.
He is such a goal-scoring player โ so smart.
Despite a late consolation goal from New Zealand's Elijah Just, Belgium quickly responded through Romelu Lukaku. Alexis Saelemaekers capped off the dominant performance with a fifth goal, sealing a comprehensive win. The victory not only boosted the team's confidence but also secured their top position in Group G.
Having scored only one goal in their previous two games, the Belgians' five-goal haul signals a significant shift in momentum. They now advance to the round of 16 to face South Korea, with renewed hope for their World Cup aspirations.
Another offensive and positive involvement from Trossard, who breaks forward and forces the defenders to react.
Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.