Belgium Vs Senegal [3–2] – FIFA World Cup 2026: Why Pape Thiaw Tactics Lost Control – Tactical Analysis

Belgium and Senegal met in Seattle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32, and it turned out to be one of the matches of the tournament.

Senegal took the lead in the first half and made it a two-goal lead just after half-time, all the while appearing in complete control.

However, Belgium completely flipped the match on its head, scoring two goals in the final five minutes of regular time.

At the death, they won a penalty that Youri Tielemans fired home to send them to the Round of 16, setting up a massive match with the United States.

It was a less-than-stellar group stage for Belgium with draws against both Iran and Egypt, but they seemingly found the tactics that made them so good during World Cup qualifying.

In this World Cup tactical analysis, we examine the tactics that gave Senegal a 2-0 lead and the changes Belgium made to flip the match and advance to the Round of 16.

Belgium Vs Senegal Lineups & Formations

Belgium Lineup Vs Senegal

Rudi Garcia lined his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Thibaut Courtois started in the net behind the centre-back pairing of Brandon Mechele and Arthur Theate.

Maxim De Cuyper started at left back, while Timothy Castagne started at right back.

Hans Vanaken and Youri Tielemans started together as the two central midfielders.

Jérémy Doku returned to the starting XI, starting on the left wing; Kevin De Bruyne started as the ‘10’, while Leandro Trossard started at right wing.

Charles De Ketelaere started in his usual place up top as the striker.

Rudi Garcia made six substitutions in the match.

In the 46th minute, Romelu Lukaku came on for De Ketelaere.

In the 56th minute, Dodi Lukébakio came on for Doku, and Nicolas Raskin came on for De Bruyne.

In the 63rd minute, Diego Moreira came on for Vanaken.

In the 78th minute, Thomas Meunier came on for De Cuyper

The final substitution came in the 109th minute when Amadou Onana came on for Trossard.

Senegal Lineup Vs Belgium

Pape Thiaw lined his team up in a 4-3-3 formation.

Mory Diaw started in the net behind the centre-back pairing of Moussa Niakhaté and Pathé Ciss.

Ismail Jakobs started at left back, while Krépin Diatta started at right back.

Pape Gueye, Idrissa Gana Gueye, and Habib Diarra started as the three midfielders.

Sadio Mané started at left wing, Ismaïla Sarr started at striker, while Iliman Ndiaye started at right wing.

Pape Thiaw made six substitutions in the match.

In the 66th minute, Lamine Camara came on for Pape Gueye.

In the 73rd minute, Pape Sarr came on for Diarra, and Ibrahim Mbaye came on for Ndiaye.

In the 93rd minute, Nicolas Jackson came on for Mané, and Malick Diouf came on for Jakobs.

The final substitution came in the 95th minute when Bara Ndiaye came on for Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Senegal’s Early Dominance

Senegal were very aggressive early on in the match and really took advantage of the lack of ball pressure by Belgium.

Belgium were sitting in a passive 4-1-4-1 low block when Senegal had the ball, but never really pressured their build-up play.

Senegal had a big chance early by using the space Belgium were giving them to have an easy pass out wide.

From here, a couple of quick passes opened up space behind to put a dangerous cross into the box that Sarr almost put in the back of the net.

Here is another example where Belgium's lack of intensity and ball pressure allows Senegal to make a couple of easy passes to set up a free cross into the box.

Senegal kept getting overloads, 2v2s, or 3v3s in the wide areas to set up crosses into the box, which is how they scored their opening goal.

Here, they have a 3v3.

Jakobs makes a run into the half-space, which gives Mane a little bit of space to whip in a cross to the box.

The ball finds Sarr, who wins the header that hits the post, but Diarra fires home the rebound into the back of the net.

At the end of the first half, Belgium had not even attempted a shot from inside the box.

Senegal finished the half creating 1.83 xG compared to only 0.16 for Belgium.

Right out of the halftime break, Senegal took advantage of Belgium's lack of ball pressure with a ball over the top to Sarr, who brought it down with great control and emphatically put it in the back of the net.