Two goals down. Eighty-five dire minutes. A Belgium side nowhere to be seen, with Kevin De Bruyne anonymous in midfield. Then it all flipped. Romelu Lukaku dragged the Red Devils back into it, and Youri Tielemans slammed home a stoppage-time extra-time penalty to complete a wild 3-2 win over Senegal. Belgium are through to the last 16 — but they scraped it, and that near-miss carries a blunt message for every team still standing, England included.
A collective no-show until the 85th minute
For 85 minutes, Belgium simply didn’t turn up. Kevin De Bruyne, supposed to dictate the tempo, gave the ball away in dangerous areas time and again. Senegal, sharper and better organized, deserved their 2-0 lead.
The Lions of Teranga shut down space and punished every Belgian mistake without mercy. With ten minutes of normal time left, nobody inside the stadium expected a comeback, let alone a way through to the next round.
Lukaku then Tielemans: the wildest turnaround of the tournament
Romelu Lukaku was the first to strike back, pouncing on a sloppy Senegal build-up to drag Belgium back into the tie. From that moment the whole complexion of the match changed — Belgium believed, and Senegal started sitting deeper.
In extra time, with penalties looming, referee awarded a spot kick in the 120+3rd minute. Youri Tielemans didn’t blink: side-netting, 3-2, and a place in the last 16 secured with virtually the final kick of the game.
What this comeback tells England ahead of the knockouts
A team can look unrecognizable for 85 minutes and still rescue its World Cup in five. That’s precisely the trap England must avoid in knockout football: a sluggish start against a disciplined side like Senegal can be fatal.
The lesson is blunt — at this stage of the 2026 World Cup, collective shape matters more than individual quality for long stretches, and it only takes one moment from a Lukaku or a Tielemans to flip the script. England can’t afford to sleepwalk through 85 minutes and hope for a miracle.
FAQ
What was the final score in Belgium vs Senegal?
Belgium won 3-2 after extra time, with Youri Tielemans converting a decisive penalty in the closing minutes.
Who scored Belgium’s goals?
Romelu Lukaku pulled one back and then equalized, before Youri Tielemans scored the winning penalty in extra time.
Why was Kevin De Bruyne’s performance criticized?
De Bruyne and his teammates were poor for 85 minutes, allowing Senegal to build a 2-0 lead with little collective response.
Could a similar collapse happen to England in the knockout rounds?
The World Cup 2026’s straight knockout format makes this kind of turnaround possible for any team that manages the start of a match poorly.
Has Belgium qualified for the round of 16?
Yes, the 3-2 extra-time win over Senegal confirms Belgium’s place in the next round of the 2026 World Cup.
🏆 AI Analysis – World Cup 2026
Mysports AI uses advanced data models to deliver the best odds, dark horse analysis and betting tips.
Get predictions