Football has a particular cruelty reserved for the teams who almost make it. Senegal were 2-0 up against Belgium with four minutes of normal time remaining at the 2026 World Cup — close enough to shake hands with the next round — and then it all came apart. Two late goals, extra time, elimination. Habib Diarra walked off furious, and honestly, who could blame him.
For 86 minutes, Senegal had done everything right. A two-goal cushion against Belgium is not nothing — this is a side that has caused problems throughout the tournament, and Senegal had them. The next round was right there.
Then Belgium pulled one back. Then, in the kind of added-time equaliser that replays itself in your head for years, they got another. Two goals in the final four minutes of normal time to drag it level — per Foot Mercato, who are covering the match. Once it went to extra time, Senegal couldn't hold on, with Belgium progressing — a result also confirmed by BBC Sport. They're out. Belgium are through.
One of the most brutal late collapses of this World Cup, full stop.
Habib Diarra did not hide how he felt. Per Foot Mercato, the footage from after the final whistle shows a player visibly furious — not the quiet devastation of someone who knows they gave everything, but the hot, specific anger of someone who knows what was just thrown away.
That reaction matters. It's the most honest thing on a football pitch — a player who cared enough to be that angry. Diarra's emotion became the face of Senegal's elimination almost immediately, and it will stay that way.
Four minutes. That's all it was. Four minutes between a famous World Cup win and this.
Football has a particular cruelty reserved for the teams who almost make it. Senegal were 2-0 up against Belgium with four minutes of normal time remaining at the 2026 World Cup
Lähteet
Foot Mercato
Flagsiden jutut ovat omaperäisiä, monista lähteistä syntetisoituja kirjoituksia. Mainitsemme jokaisen median, joka ruokki juttua.
Yön otteluiden poiminta, mitä siirtoikkunassa tapahtuu, ja yksi kolumni, josta toimituksen pöytä väitteli. Ei mainoksia. Ei vinkkejä. Ei operaattoreita.
Yksi klikkaus poistaa tilauksesta. Emme jaa sähköpostiosoitteita.
“Stays on World Cup — different angle, same beat.”
MAAJOUKKUEETBelgium were two goals down and heading out of the 2026 World Cup. Then they weren't. A stunning second-half comeback saw Rudi Garcia's side overturn a 2-0 deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 and reach the ro
“Stays on World Cup — different angle, same beat.”
MAAJOUKKUEETBelgium were two goals down and heading out of the 2026 World Cup. Then they weren't. A stunning second-half comeback saw Rudi Garcia's side overturn a 2-0 deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 and reach the ro
