Unbeaten in their last 16 games, Belgium is now set to take on Africa Cup of Nations finalists Senegal in their Round of 32 match on Wednesday at the Seattle Stadium.
Belgium vs Senegal – Match preview and team news
- Date: Wednesday, 1st July.
- Kick-off: 9pm BST.
- Venue: Seattle Stadium, Washington, USA.
Belgium team news
Belgium enters their World Cup Round of 32 clash with an almost entirely healthy roster, giving manager Rudi Garcia massive tactical flexibility.
Jérémy Doku returned to play the last group game against New Zealand after a brief trip home to attend the birth of his child and is fully available.
Furthermore, defender Nathan Ngoy returns from a one-match suspension served during the 5-1 thrashing of New Zealand, reinforcing the backline.
The only minor fitness cloud hangs over defender Zeno Debast, who recently returned to partial training but may be rested to avoid risking a setback.
Up front, Romelu Lukaku is completely fit but is expected to begin on the bench, allowing Charles De Ketelaere to start as a dynamic false nine.
Anchored by Thibaut Courtois in goal and Kevin De Bruyne in midfield, Belgium looks incredibly robust and primed to dictate the tempo of this knockout match.
Senegal team news
Senegal faces critical selection dilemmas ahead of the knockout clash, primarily centred around the fitness of goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.
Mendy remains an extreme doubt following a knee injury sustained against Norway, forcing manager Pape Thiaw to prepare backup Mory Diaw for a high-stakes start.
In midfield, Pape Gueye is pushing aggressively for a starting role after scoring a brilliant brace off the bench in their emphatic 5-0 win over Iraq.
Defensively, veteran Kalidou Koulibaly is facing intense competition from Abdoulaye Seck, who excelled recently while Koulibaly struggled for pace in early group games.
With Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, and Ismaïla Sarr leading a lethal attack, the Lions of Teranga possess immense transition speed.
Form
Belgium
Belgium enters the knockouts in highly confident form, finishing Group G completely unbeaten. They initially endured a sluggish start to the tournament, grinding out consecutive draws against Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0). However, the Red Devils finally exploded into life in their final group fixture, thrashing New Zealand 5-1 to secure top spot on goal difference. Unbeaten in their last 16 matches across all competitions, Belgium looks formidable.
Senegal
Senegal has experienced a highly chaotic run of form, narrowly progressing as one of the best third-placed teams. The Lions of Teranga suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening Group I matches, losing 3-1 to France and 3-2 to Norway. In a must-win final fixture, they made spectacular amends by crushing Iraq 5-0. Despite winning only one of their last five matches, their explosive attacking power makes them incredibly dangerous.
Predicted lineups
Belgium: Courtois; Castagne, Theate, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere
Senegal: Diaw; Jakobs, Seck, Niakhate, Diatta; Camara, Gueye, Diarra; Mane, Jackson, Sarr
How to watch Belgium vs Senegal?
UK viewers can watch the Belgium vs. Senegal World Cup Round of 32 match completely free-to-air on ITV1.
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