What's happened
Belgium dominates Tunisia 5-1 in a World Cup warm-up, with Nicolas Raskin scoring late as Belgium strengthen their World Cup buildup; Leandro Trossard, Charles de Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio also score as Belgium close in on group stage.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Belgium’s reserves show depth as Raskin enters late to add a fifth.
- The win reinforces Rudi Garcia’s plan to rotate early in the tournament window.
- Trossard and De Ketelaere provide width and pace, complementing Lukebakio and De Bruyne in midfield.
- Tunisia face a tougher group and were reduced to ten men after Gharbi’s dismissal, impacting their balance.
- This performance should bolster Belgium’s confidence and starting XI discussions ahead of their opening match.
Takeaway: Belgium’s attack looks potent, and the squad depth could be decisive in a congested schedule.
How we got here
Belgium is finalising its World Cup preparations with a friendly against Tunisia in Brussels. The match features Belgium’s push for attacking depth ahead of Qatar 2026, as they aim to secure a strong group stage showing.
Our analysis
AP News, The Scotsman, The New Arab
Go deeper
- Will Belgium keep this form into the World Cup opener?
- Which players will adjust to the higher level of competition in their group?
- Can Tunisia recover quickly after a difficult outing and a red card?