Belgium enter Group G as a possession favorite, but the wider tournament question is whether their new core can replace the old golden-generation control.
Belgium should control territory against lower blocks, but Egypt and Iran can test their defensive spacing in transition.
Key question: Can Belgium create central penetration without becoming too open behind the ball?
Knockout ceiling: Quarter-final ceiling if the attack becomes more balanced than star-dependent.
Belgium's Golden Generation is fading but De Bruyne, Lukaku and Tielemans remain. Egypt's Salah leads an experienced African side. Can Belgium finally deliver?
12 groups, 48 teams, and the most unpredictable format in World Cup history. Here are our group-by-group qualification predictions with the tactical reasoning behind each call.
France are the favorites. Brazil have the talent. England have the squad. Argentina have the experience. A tactical assessment of every realistic contender.