· 2 min readIn this Belgium vs Iran match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
In a match that ended up being strange in terms of balance, Belgium and Iran played out a 0-0 draw in a game where possession told one story and danger told a completely different one.
Belgium started with the ball, as expected, but without much speed in their circulation. Iran were comfortable dropping deep and closing spaces, waiting for a mistake. And the first major warning actually came from them in the 14th minute, when a powerful strike from the edge of the box forced Courtois into a top-class save.
Belgium responded in the 22nd minute, with Tielemans trying his luck from distance, but without causing much trouble. Three minutes later, Iran thought they had taken the lead through Taremi after a well-worked free-kick routine, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Even so, it was a serious warning: every time Iran broke forward, they caused problems.
Belgium had the ball and controlled territory, but they were always missing the final pass. Lukaku looked heavy and lacked mobility, which took away a lot of the attack’s depth. Doku was kept under control and rarely managed to win his individual battles.
Near the end of the first half, De Cuyper produced a dangerous effort from inside the box, but Beiranvand reacted well. It was that type of game where Belgium hovered around the area but never truly threatened.
The second half heated up immediately in the 47th minute, when a heavy challenge on Trossard went unpunished. It was a moment that changed the emotional tone of the match.
Belgium’s best chance arrived in the 59th minute. De Bruyne produced a brilliant piece of control to reach the byline and cut the ball back into the six-yard box, but De Cuyper failed to convert and the Iranian goalkeeper somehow made an incredible save while already on the ground.
In the 67th minute, the game changed completely with Ngoy’s red card. A mistake in the build-up allowed Taremi to press, and the Belgian defender grabbed him after being beaten. A straight red card, leaving Belgium down to ten men.
From that moment on, Iran grew into the game. They enjoyed more possession, showed more initiative and pushed Belgium deeper. In the 73rd minute, Lukaku was substituted and Belgium dropped into a much lower block, clearly trying to hold on to the point.
The match entered a slower but more tense phase. Even so, in the 86th minute, De Cuyper tested Beiranvand again, but the goalkeeper remained solid.
Deep into stoppage time, in the 90+5th minute, Lukebakio tried his luck from distance with a dangerous effort, but without success.
Post-match
Belgium tried and tried, but once again it was not enough to secure a victory. Two matches at the World Cup and two draws, which is becoming a concern for a team that had the quality to top the group.
