Group H concluded on Thursday with six intriguing games and two rightful qualifiers. Group favourites Belgium finished the group stages with maximum points from their three games, the Fennec Foxes finished in second with four points, whilst Russia and South Korea were knocked out on two points and one point respectively.
On the 17th of June the group kicked off between Belgium and Algeria. It appeared as if Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ was overhyped when the Fennecs took a surprise lead through Sofiane Feghouli who converted from the spot. However, the Greens experienced a downfall late in the second half when Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens struck to win the game for the Red Devils.
Russia and South Korea faced each other in the late night kick off at Cuiaba. The South Koreans took the lead through when Lee Keun-ho had an attempt on goal which was spilled by Igor Akinfeev and found the back of the net. However, the Russians found their way back into the game through Aleksandr Kerzhakov.
In the following matchday, Belgium and Russia squared off at the famous Estadio Marcana. Aleksandr Kokorin should’ve probably gave Russia the lead in the first half; and when all seemed to be heading for a draw teenager Divock Origi popped up with a goal two minutes from time to secure Belgium’s qualification to the Round of 16.
Two hours later, Algeria and South Korea came face to face at the Estadio Mineirao in Porto Alegre. The Fennec Foxes needed a win in order to keep their hopes of progressing alive, and they did exactly that. Islam Slimani gave Halilhodzic’s men the lead before Rafik Halliche nodded in from a corner to make it 2-0. Abdelmoumene Djabou added insult to injury just before half-time with a well worked team goal.
At the start of the second half Son Heung-min pulled one back for the Taegeuk Warriors with an excellent finish through the legs of Rais M’Bolhi. Minutes later and Yacine Brahimi made it 4-1 to the Fennecs meaning that Koo Ja-cheol’s goal proved to be a consolation.
Entering the final matchday, only Belgium’s fate was decided. Russia and Algeria squared off at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba while Belgium and South Korea faced one another in the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo. A draw would do for the Fennecs, while Russia had to win. South Korea on the other hand, needed at least a two-goal margin to progress.
In Curitiba, Russia took an early lead through Aleksandr Kokorin who guided his header past M’Bolhi. All seemed set for an Algeria exit especially when Aleksandr Samedov missed a glaring one-on-one. The Algerians though never gave up and managed to score through Islam Slimani in the 60th minute, thus securing the Fennecs’ progression.
The Red Devils on the other hand managed to claim a 1-0 win over a helpless South Korea in Sao Paulo through Jan Vertonghen’s lone goal. Wilmots though will miss the services of midfielder Steven Defour in the Round of 16 tie against the United States after his sending off.
Belgium will play against the United States in the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on 1st July whilst Algeria will have the tough task of facing Germany at the Estadio Mineirao in Porto Alegre on the 30th of June.
