A thumping win on matchday three was enough to secure top spot in Group G for Belgium and set up a last-32 tie in Seattle against a Senegal side who snuck into the knockouts as the eighth-best third-placed side.
Belgium were at risk of elimination in the final group game, but ended up becoming the first European side since England in 1990 to win their group after failing to win their opening two matches by posting their biggest-ever win at a World Cup with a thumping 5-1 win over New Zealand.
Those five goals represent more than the Red Devils had managed across their previous seven World Cup matches combined, and it was another showing that hints they’re finding their feet at just the right time. In spite of their slow start, Belgium head into this game on the back of their second-longest unbeaten run in history, two of which came against African opposition.
Senegal’s group stage campaign had striking similarities to Belgium’s, as they failed to win either of their opening two games before hammering in five goals on matchday three against a ten-man Iraq to become the only third-placed side to qualify with three points.
High-scoring affairs were a running theme for Senegal in the group stage, with only games involving Norway (G15) producing more goals than the 14 in Senegal’s outings, but conceding six of them against European opposition in Norway and France should see them approach this game cautiously.
They’ve had issues in the past against European opposition too, as their last two World Cup knockout games both ended in defeats to nil against Turkey and England respectively.
This will be the first-ever meeting between these nations. Belgium are unbeaten in five of their six World Cup encounters against African sides , while Senegal have lost each of their last four games at the tournament against European nations.
