Belgium, one of the pre-tournament favourites to go deep at the 2026 World Cup, extended their struggles to a second consecutive match after settling for a goalless draw against Iran.
The first two rounds exposed a clear crisis in the Red Devils' attacking play, despite the team possessing a collection of players among the finest at Europe's top clubs.
Although Belgium dominated the contest against Iran, controlling possession 68% to their opponents' 32%, they once again failed to convert their superiority into goals that would justify their dominance on the pitch.
The statistics paint a stark picture: Belgium's players fired 22 shots at the Iranian goal, including 7 on target, yet attacking efficiency remained absent — a pattern that repeated itself for the second match running.
The Belgian attack faced a clear problem in the final touch, with the team lacking decisiveness inside the penalty area despite frequently penetrating the attacking third and enjoying numerous scoring opportunities.
Romelu Lukaku struggled to lead the front line, appearing isolated for long spells away from danger areas despite his considerable ability. His isolation, compounded by a dip in form, limited his capacity to make a difference or capitalise on crosses and passes into the box.
The midfielders also failed to produce attacking solutions to break down the opposition's defensive organisation, despite the experience and technical quality in their ranks — led by Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard — while the absence of dangerous winger Jérémy Doku was clearly felt.
The goalless draw raised serious questions about the true nature of Belgium's attacking crisis: whether it amounts to a temporary run of bad luck or a deeper problem in the way they build attacks and convert chances.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia now needs to review his attacking options — in terms of both method and personnel — as possession statistics and shot counts will not be enough to secure victories if this attacking dysfunction persists, potentially placing the team at risk of an early World Cup exit.