New Zealand vs Belgium — Prediction

Belgium must win to be sure of going through — a draw would leave them on three points sweating a best-third place — and that urgency should finally unlock a side that has drawn both games and looked strangely blunt. The deciding factor is the squad-quality gulf paired with the group's meanest defence: Courtois has conceded once in two matches, and a front line of De Bruyne, Lukaku, Doku and Trossard is a different level to anything New Zealand carry. The All Whites sit bottom on a point and need a win of their own, so they will commit forward and lean on captain Chris Wood's aerial duels with De Winter and Mechele — the obvious route to a shock, and the reason this is a clear favourite rather than a romp. De Bruyne staying at No.10 is the creative key to picking the lock; if he and Lukaku stay quiet as they have all tournament, a frustrating draw is live. Belgium to control it and win without conceding.