Belgium's 16th-place power ranking sparks Lukaku alarm

Belgium face an uphill task to impress at the World Cup after two disappointing draws left them languishing in the power rankings. The Red Devils sit 16th out of 48 teams, below Mexico and the United States, with only New Zealand trailing behind. Opta’s supercomputer now gives Belgium a 90.33% chance of reaching the next round, down from earlier projections. However, their 27.28% chance of topping the group relies on favorable results from Egypt and Iran. SofaScore’s rankings place France, Argentina, and Spain at the top after two matches, with England, Brazil, and Portugal also ahead of Belgium. The Red Devils’ performances so far have failed to match pre-tournament expectations.

Belgium’s fate hinges on New Zealand clash

Romelu Lukaku remains scoreless in his last eight World Cup games, stretching back to Russia 2018. The Belgian all-time top scorer has yet to find the net in Qatar, adding pressure ahead of Saturday’s clash with New Zealand. Expected goals data suggests Belgium could have won both their opening matches but were denied by fine margins. Vincent Mannaert is among those monitoring the situation, with Doku and Debast also in focus.

Belgium must beat New Zealand after draws, says Mechele

Training-ground morale remains high, but results and goals will dictate Belgium’s fate. Lukaku’s drought is the most pressing concern as the Red Devils aim to rediscover their form. The Red Devils’ next match against New Zealand kicks off at 05:00 on 27/06, live on Voetbalkrant.com.