Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- Belgium and Senegal clash in the Round of 32, with both sides relying heavily on their veteran cores in what could be their final World Cup appearance. Belgium's 35-year-old Kevin De Bruyne (formerly Manchester City, now Napoli) orchestrates from midfield, while Senegal lean on 34-year-old Sadio Mané (formerly Liverpool, now Al-Nassr) and 36-year-old Idrissa Gueye (Everton) to guide their younger teammates through this crucial knockout fixture.
- Belgium line up in 4-2-3-1 with De Bruyne as playmaker, flanked by 24-year-old Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) on the right and 31-year-old Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) on the left. Charles De Ketelaere (25, Atalanta) leads the line with Romelu Lukaku (33, Napoli) surprisingly on the bench. Despite Lukaku's record 90 international goals, coach Tedesco opts for pace and work rate in his starting XI.
- Senegal's 4-3-3 formation relies on width from their wingers. Ismaïla Sarr (28, Crystal Palace) brings explosive pace and his 185cm frame for direct running on the right, while Iliman Ndiaye (26, Everton) offers close control and dribbling in tight spaces on the left. Central figure Mané wears number 10, bringing his 127 caps and 55 international goals to bear. The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations hero seeks another moment of glory on the biggest stage.
- The defensive contrast is intriguing. Belgium's 200cm goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (34, Real Madrid) guards the net, with center-backs Arthur Theate (26, Eintracht Frankfurt) and veteran Brandon Mechele (33, Club Brugge stalwart) forming the partnership. Senegal counter with Moussa Niakhaté (30, Lyon) and Pathe Ciss (32, Rayo Vallecano) in central defense, though captain Kalidou Koulibaly (35, Al-Hilal) starts on the bench in a surprise tactical decision.
- The midfield battle for control will be pivotal. Belgium deploy Youri Tielemans (29, Aston Villa) and Hans Vanaken (33, Club Brugge) as their double pivot. Tielemans brings vision and passing range, while the 195cm Vanaken offers aerial prowess and set-piece delivery. Senegal respond with the 'double Gueye' of Pape Gueye (27, Villarreal) and Idrissa Gueye, alongside dynamic 22-year-old Habib Diarra (Sunderland) in a three-man midfield.
- Belgium's bench harbors game-changing options. Amadou Onana (24, Aston Villa) offers a 195cm frame with exceptional physicality for both ball recovery and driving forward, while Alexis Saelemaekers (27, AC Milan) provides defensive work rate from the wing. Most crucially, the timing of Lukaku's introduction could prove decisive. Senegal also boast quality reinforcements in Nicolas Jackson (25, Bayern Munich) and Koulibaly, ensuring the second-half substitutions will be crucial in determining who advances.