The group stages drew to a close on Thursday as Belgium topped off a perfect Group H record by progressing as winners with a tight victory over Korea Republic.
The only Blue in Belgium’s usually Chelsea laden line up was goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who would prove to be vital in securing a win in the final match of the Red Devils’ group. Eden Hazard would make a substitute appearance.
Romelu Lukaku would be confined to the bench after a poor performance and attitude against Russia in Belgium’s previous game while Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj started for Belgium for the first time.
It was far from the exciting and vintage performance this young Belgium side can promise but Jan Vertongen’s goal around 10 minutes from the end would prove to be enough to progress to the group stages with maximum points.
However, they weren’t without their chances. Dries Mertens, who scored the winner in their opening game against Algeria, would be presented with a fantastic chance following Fellaini’s knock down, but his shot would balloon over Korea’s bar.
Courtois would prove vital in keeping the clean sheet intact, particularly before halftime when he was forced into a stretching save after Ki tried his luck from range in the 30th minute. The Chelsea man would get an important fingertip on the ball to turn it away for a corner.
The tables would turn against the favourites on the brink of halftime as Belgium’s Defour would be shown the red card for a challenge that would go over the ball and make dangerous contact with the shins of Shin-Wook Kim. After a closer look, the intent seemed to be there for Defour and he was correctly shown a red leaving his team with ten, going goalless into the break.
Mertens would come close to redeeming himself for his miss earlier on with a strike from 25 yards, but Kim would get down smartly to keep the Napoli man out. This would come as Korea were looking the more threatening team following the break, as they looked like the side most likely to score as they cranked up the pressure on Courtois’ goal.
However, Korea were lacking a playmaker on the pitch who could create chances for the forwards, and ultimately their lack of chances would become a bigger problem as they fell behind in the 78th minute.
Origi, who was the hero against Russia after replacing the labouring Lukaku, would work himself some space and try his luck from range, forcing a parry from Kim in the Korean goal. Vertonghen was the one on his toes and sniffing out any chance that may arise, and his luck would be in as he smashed home the rebound from close range. The ten men of Belgium had the one goal advantage.
The Korean’s would almost hit back instantly as Lee Keun-ho would get behind the Belgian defence three minutes later. His effort to lob the on-rushing Courtois was a poor one but wasn’t far away as it dropped onto the roof of the net, much to the relief of the Chelsea goalkeeper.
It wouldn’t be until the 90th minute when another chance would come and one for Belgium to settle it when Hazard, a late entry to the came just two minutes earlier, when the winger hammered an effort toward the far post after receiving a cutback. However, Kim would get down to deny Belgium a second and Hazard a first in this year’s World Cup.
However, Hazard will get many more chances to open his account as the full time whistle signaled the end of the Group stages and set Belgium up with a date with the USA next Tuesday in the round of 16.
Algeria did brilliantly to get out the group, finishing with a 1-1 draw with Capello’s Russian side, who crash out. Algeria face many people’s favourties Germany next Monday in the first knockout phase.
So, despite not putting the football that they are capable of on show throughout the group stage, Belgium progress with maximum points and face the USA as Wilmots’ young side look to achieve something special.
Full time: Korea Republic 0-1 Belgium
