2014 FIFA World Cup Group H

Group H of the 2014 FIFA World Cup consisted of Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea. Play began on 17 June and ended on 26 June 2014. The top two teams, Belgium and Algeria, advanced to the round of 16.

Teams

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Draw position Team Confederation Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2013[nb 1] June 2014
H1 (seed)   Belgium UEFA UEFA Group A winners 11 October 2013 12th 2002 Fourth place (1986) 5 11
H2   Algeria CAF CAF third round winners 19 November 2013 4th 2010 Group stage (1982, 1986, 2010) 32 22
H3   Russia UEFA UEFA Group F winners 15 October 2013 10th[nb 2] 2002 Fourth place (1966)[nb 3] 19 19
H4   South Korea AFC AFC fourth round Group A 2nd runners-up 18 June 2013 9th 2010 Fourth place (2002) 56 57
Notes
  1. ^ The rankings of October 2013 were used for seeding for the final draw.
  2. ^ This is Russia's third appearance as an independent nation at the FIFA World Cup; however, FIFA considers Russia as the successor to the Soviet Union, who qualified for the World Cup seven times.
  3. ^ Russia's best result is group stage in 1994 and 2002. However, FIFA considers Russia as the successor team of the Soviet Union.

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Belgium 3 3 0 0 4 1 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Algeria 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 4
3   Russia 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
4   South Korea 3 0 1 2 3 6 −3 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria

Matches

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Belgium vs Algeria

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The two teams had met in two previous matches, both friendlies, most recently in 2003, won 3–1 by Belgium.[1]

Algeria took a one-goal lead in the first half after Sofiane Feghouli converted a penalty kick, awarded for a foul on him by Jan Vertonghen. Belgium came back with two goals in the second half, both scored by substitutes.[2] The equaliser was scored by Marouane Fellaini, heading in a cross from the left by Kevin De Bruyne, followed by the game winner scored by Dries Mertens from a pass by Eden Hazard.[3]

Feghouli's goal snapped Algeria's 506-minute World Cup scoreless streak stretching back to 1986, second place at the time to the record of 517 minutes between 1930 and 1990 held by Bolivia.[4]

Belgium  2–1  Algeria
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belgium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Algeria
GK 1 Thibaut Courtois
RB 2 Toby Alderweireld
CB 15 Daniel Van Buyten
CB 4 Vincent Kompany (c)
LB 5 Jan Vertonghen   24'
CM 6 Axel Witsel
CM 19 Moussa Dembélé   65'
RW 22 Nacer Chadli   46'
AM 7 Kevin De Bruyne
LW 10 Eden Hazard
CF 9 Romelu Lukaku   58'
Substitutions:
FW 14 Dries Mertens   46'
FW 17 Divock Origi   58'
MF 8 Marouane Fellaini   65'
Manager:
Marc Wilmots
 
GK 23 Raïs M'Bolhi
RB 22 Mehdi Mostefa
CB 2 Madjid Bougherra (c)
CB 5 Rafik Halliche
LB 3 Faouzi Ghoulam
RM 19 Saphir Taïder
CM 12 Carl Medjani   84'
LM 14 Nabil Bentaleb   34'
AM 10 Sofiane Feghouli
AM 21 Riyad Mahrez   71'
CF 15 Hillal Soudani   66'
Substitutions:
FW 13 Islam Slimani   66'
MF 8 Mehdi Lacen   71'
FW 9 Nabil Ghilas   84'
Manager:
  Vahid Halilhodžić

Man of the Match:
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

Assistant referees:
Marvin Torrentera (Mexico)
Marcos Quintero (Mexico)
Fourth official:
Alireza Faghani (Iran)
Fifth official:
Hassan Kamranifar (Iran)

Russia vs South Korea

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The two teams had met in one previous match, in a friendly in 2013.[5]

After a goalless first half, the two teams traded goals by substitutes in the second half as the match finished 1–1. First, Han Kook-young passed to Lee Keun-ho, and his long range shot was spilled by Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev into the net.[6] Russia equalised after Alan Dzagoev's shot was parried by South Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, the clearance hit Andrey Yeshchenko, and Aleksandr Kerzhakov scored from close range.[7]

Russia  1–1  South Korea
Report
Attendance: 37,603
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Russia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
South Korea
GK 1 Igor Akinfeev
RB 22 Andrey Yeshchenko
CB 4 Sergei Ignashevich
CB 14 Vasili Berezutski (c)
LB 23 Dmitri Kombarov
DM 8 Denis Glushakov   72'
CM 20 Viktor Fayzulin
CM 18 Yuri Zhirkov   71'
RW 19 Aleksandr Samedov
LW 17 Oleg Shatov   49'   59'
CF 9 Aleksandr Kokorin
Substitutions:
MF 10 Alan Dzagoev   59'
FW 11 Aleksandr Kerzhakov   71'
MF 7 Igor Denisov   72'
Manager:
  Fabio Capello
 
GK 1 Jung Sung-ryong
RB 12 Lee Yong
CB 5 Kim Young-gwon
CB 20 Hong Jeong-ho   73'
LB 3 Yun Suk-young
CM 16 Ki Sung-yueng   30'
CM 14 Han Kook-young
RW 17 Lee Chung-yong
AM 13 Koo Ja-cheol (c)   90'
LW 9 Son Heung-min   13'   84'
CF 10 Park Chu-young   56'
Substitutions:
FW 11 Lee Keun-ho   56'
DF 6 Hwang Seok-ho   73'
MF 7 Kim Bo-kyung   84'
Manager:
Hong Myung-bo

Man of the Match:
Son Heung-min (South Korea)

Assistant referees:
Hernán Maidana (Argentina)
Juan Pablo Belatti (Argentina)
Fourth official:
Roberto Moreno (Panama)
Fifth official:
Eric Boria (United States)

Belgium vs Russia

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The two teams had met in eight previous matches (including matches involving the Soviet Union), including four in the FIFA World Cup (1970, group stage: Belgium 1–4 Soviet Union; 1982, second group stage: Belgium 0–1 Soviet Union; 1986, round of 16: Belgium 4–3 (aet) Soviet Union; 2002, group stage: Belgium 3–2 Russia).[8]

Aleksandr Kokorin had Russia's best chance in the first half, heading wide from six yards. Late in the second half, Belgian substitute Kevin Mirallas hit the post with his free kick, but Belgium did find the game-winner through another substitute, Divock Origi scoring from 8 yards out after Eden Hazard's cut-back from the left. This victory sent Belgium into the knockout stage.[9][10]

Belgium  1–0  Russia
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belgium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Russia
GK 1 Thibaut Courtois
RB 2 Toby Alderweireld   73'
CB 15 Daniel Van Buyten
CB 4 Vincent Kompany (c)
LB 3 Thomas Vermaelen   31'
CM 6 Axel Witsel   54'
CM 8 Marouane Fellaini
RW 14 Dries Mertens   75'
AM 7 Kevin De Bruyne
LW 10 Eden Hazard
CF 9 Romelu Lukaku   57'
Substitutions:
DF 5 Jan Vertonghen   31'
FW 17 Divock Origi   57'
MF 11 Kevin Mirallas   75'
Manager:
Marc Wilmots
 
GK 1 Igor Akinfeev
RB 2 Aleksei Kozlov   62'
CB 14 Vasili Berezutski (c)
CB 4 Sergei Ignashevich
LB 23 Dmitri Kombarov
DM 8 Denis Glushakov   38'
CM 20 Viktor Fayzulin
RW 19 Aleksandr Samedov   90'
AM 6 Maksim Kanunnikov
LW 17 Oleg Shatov   83'
CF 9 Aleksandr Kokorin
Substitutions:
DF 22 Andrey Yeshchenko   62'
MF 10 Alan Dzagoev   83'
FW 11 Aleksandr Kerzhakov   90'
Manager:
  Fabio Capello

Man of the Match:
Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Assistant referees:
Mark Borsch (Germany)
Stefan Lupp (Germany)
Fourth official:
Carlos Vera (Ecuador)
Fifth official:
Byron Romero (Ecuador)

South Korea vs Algeria

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The two teams had met in two previous matches, both in friendlies both in 1985.[11]

Algeria, who needed at least a point to stay alive in the competition, scored three goals in the first half to take a comfortable lead. First, Islam Slimani sped past two South Korean defenders to receive Carl Medjani's long pass and slot home with his left foot past the advancing goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Rafik Halliche headed in Abdelmoumene Djabou's corner from the left. Djabou scored himself later after he received a pass from Slimani, shooting low with his left foot from twelve yards out.[12] Early in the second half, Son Heung-min controlled a long pass from Ki Sung-yueng to shoot with his left foot between the goalkeeper's legs and reduce the deficit, but Yacine Brahimi restored Algeria's three-goal lead after a one-two with Sofiane Feghouli to side foot home from inside the penalty area with his right foot. Koo Ja-cheol scored South Korea's second goal after a pass from Lee Keun-ho from the left, but Algeria held on for its third ever World Cup victory, but its first since 24 June 1982.[13]

Algeria became the first African team to score four goals in a World Cup match.[14]

South Korea  2–4  Algeria
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
South Korea
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Algeria
GK 1 Jung Sung-ryong
RB 12 Lee Yong   54'
CB 20 Hong Jeong-ho
CB 5 Kim Young-gwon
LB 3 Yun Suk-young
CM 14 Han Kook-young   69'   78'
CM 16 Ki Sung-yueng
RW 17 Lee Chung-yong   64'
AM 13 Koo Ja-cheol (c)
LW 9 Son Heung-min
CF 10 Park Chu-young   57'
Substitutions:
FW 18 Kim Shin-wook   57'
FW 11 Lee Keun-ho   64'
FW 19 Ji Dong-won   78'
Manager:
Hong Myung-bo
 
GK 23 Raïs M'Bolhi
CB 12 Carl Medjani
CB 2 Madjid Bougherra (c)   67'   89'
CB 5 Rafik Halliche
RWB 20 Aïssa Mandi
LWB 6 Djamel Mesbah
CM 11 Yacine Brahimi   77'
CM 18 Abdelmoumene Djabou   73'
RW 10 Sofiane Feghouli
LW 14 Nabil Bentaleb
CF 13 Islam Slimani
Substitutions:
FW 9 Nabil Ghilas   73'
MF 8 Mehdi Lacen   77'
DF 4 Essaïd Belkalem   89'
Manager:
  Vahid Halilhodžić

Man of the Match:
Islam Slimani (Algeria)

Assistant referees:
Eduardo Díaz (Colombia)
Christian Lescano (Ecuador)
Fourth official:
Alireza Faghani (Iran)
Fifth official:
Hassan Kamranifar (Iran)

South Korea vs Belgium

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The two teams had met in three previous matches, including twice in the FIFA World Cup group stage (1990: South Korea 0–2 Belgium; 1998: South Korea 1–1 Belgium).[15]

Belgium, who had already qualified for the knockout stage and would win the group if either South Korea did not win this match, or Algeria didn't beat Russia in the other simultaneous match, had Steven Defour sent off for a reckless tackle on Kim Shin-wook at the end of the first half. Belgium scored the only goal of the match in the second half, when substitute Divock Origi's shot was parried by South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and Jan Vertonghen converted the rebound with his left foot.[16]

Belgium's win ensured that they topped their group, while South Korea, who had to win by two goals to have any chance for qualification to the knockout stage, were eliminated.[17]

South Korea's elimination meant that all four Asian representatives finished bottom of their group with a combined record of zero wins, three draws and nine defeats, the worst showing by the Asian Football Confederation since the 1990 World Cup.[18]

South Korea  0–1  Belgium
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
South Korea
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belgium
GK 21 Kim Seung-gyu
RB 12 Lee Yong
CB 5 Kim Young-gwon
CB 20 Hong Jeong-ho   35'
LB 3 Yun Suk-young
CM 14 Han Kook-young   46'
CM 16 Ki Sung-yueng
RW 17 Lee Chung-yong
AM 13 Koo Ja-cheol (c)
LW 9 Son Heung-min   73'
CF 18 Kim Shin-wook   66'
Substitutions:
FW 11 Lee Keun-ho   46'
MF 7 Kim Bo-kyung   66'
FW 19 Ji Dong-won   73'
Manager:
Hong Myung-bo
 
GK 1 Thibaut Courtois
RB 21 Anthony Vanden Borre
CB 15 Daniel Van Buyten
CB 18 Nicolas Lombaerts
LB 5 Jan Vertonghen (c)
CM 16 Steven Defour   45'
CM 19 Moussa Dembélé   50'
RW 14 Dries Mertens   60'
AM 8 Marouane Fellaini
LW 20 Adnan Januzaj   60'
CF 11 Kevin Mirallas   88'
Substitutions:
MF 22 Nacer Chadli   60'
FW 17 Divock Origi   60'
MF 10 Eden Hazard   88'
Manager:
Marc Wilmots

Man of the Match:
Jan Vertonghen (Belgium)

Assistant referees:
Matthew Cream (Australia)
Hakan Anaz (Australia)
Fourth official:
Víctor Hugo Carrillo (Peru)
Fifth official:
Rodney Aquino (Paraguay)

Algeria vs Russia

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The two teams had met in three previous matches (only involving matches during the time period of the Soviet Union).[19]

Aleksandr Kokorin opened the scoring for Russia, who had to win to have chance of qualifying for the knockout stage, in the 6th minute when he scored with a header after a cross from Dmitri Kombarov from the left. Algeria equalised in the 60th minute when Islam Slimani scored with a header at the back post after a free kick from the left by Yacine Brahimi was missed by Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Algeria held on for the draw, and as South Korea lost to Belgium in the other match played at the same time, Algeria finished as group runners-up and reached the second round for the first time in their history (after unsuccessful campaigns in 1982, 1986, and 2010), while Russia failed to advance out of the group stage in all three tournaments since the break-up of the Soviet Union.[20]

For Algeria's goal, television replays showed that Akinfeev had a green laser light shining in his face during the play.[21] After the match the Algerian Football Federation was fined 50,000 CHF by FIFA for the use of laser pointers, a prohibited item in the stadium according to FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations,[22] and other violations of the rules by Algerian fans.[23]

With fellow African representative Nigeria also reaching the knockout stage earlier, this was the first time that there were two teams from the Confederation of African Football in the knockout stage of a World Cup.[24]

Algeria  1–1  Russia
Report
Attendance: 39,311
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Algeria
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Russia
GK 23 Raïs M'Bolhi
RB 20 Aïssa Mandi
CB 4 Essaïd Belkalem
CB 5 Rafik Halliche (c)
LB 6 Djamel Mesbah   39'
CM 12 Carl Medjani
CM 14 Nabil Bentaleb
RW 10 Sofiane Feghouli
AM 11 Yacine Brahimi   71'
LW 18 Abdelmoumene Djabou   77'
CF 13 Islam Slimani   90+2'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Hassan Yebda   71'
FW 9 Nabil Ghilas   87'   77'
FW 15 Hillal Soudani   90+2'
Other disciplinary actions:
DF 17 Liassine Cadamuro   90+2'
Manager:
  Vahid Halilhodžić
 
GK 1 Igor Akinfeev
RB 2 Aleksei Kozlov   59'
CB 14 Vasili Berezutski (c)
CB 4 Sergei Ignashevich
LB 23 Dmitri Kombarov   57'
CM 8 Denis Glushakov   46'
CM 20 Viktor Fayzulin
RW 19 Aleksandr Samedov
AM 9 Aleksandr Kokorin
LW 17 Oleg Shatov   67'
CF 11 Aleksandr Kerzhakov   81'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Igor Denisov   46'
MF 10 Alan Dzagoev   67'
FW 6 Maksim Kanunnikov   81'
Manager:
  Fabio Capello

Man of the Match:
Islam Slimani (Algeria)

Assistant referees:
Bahattin Duran (Turkey)
Tarık Ongun (Turkey)
Fourth official:
Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)
Fifth official:
Juan Zumba (El Salvador)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Belgium's Dries Mertens completes fightback against impressive Algeria". Guardian. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Belgium 2 Algeria 1". BBC Sport. 17 June 2014.
  4. ^ "World Cup 2014: Belgian subs inspire comeback 2–1 win over Algeria". The Australian. 18 June 2014.
  5. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Aleksandr Kerzhakov rescues point for Russia against South Korea". Guardian. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Russia 1 South Korea 1". BBC Sport. 17 June 2014.
  8. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA. p. 37. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Belgium 1 Russia 0". BBC Sport. 22 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Belgium through after Divock Origi sees off Russia with late goal". Guardian. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  11. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Algeria's Islam Slimani starts onslaught to put game beyond South Korea". Guardian. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  13. ^ "South Korea 2 Algeria 4". BBC Sport. 22 June 2014.
  14. ^ "South Korea 2-4 Algeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  15. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA. p. 49. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Jan Vertonghen fires Belgium to win over South Korea". Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  17. ^ "South Korea 0 Belgium 1". BBC Sport. 26 June 2014.
  18. ^ "Asian media dissects quartet's World Cup performance". FIFA. 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014.
  19. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA. p. 50. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2014.
  20. ^ "Algeria 1 Russia 1". BBC Sport. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  21. ^ "Algeria through but Russia's Akinfeev distracted by laser for Slimani goal". Guardian. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  22. ^ FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations — see page 96, "g"
  23. ^ Evans, Simon (1 July 2014). "Algeria zapped with FIFA fine over lasers". Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  24. ^ "CONCACAF and Africa enter brave new world". FIFA. 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014.
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