Belgium finished the pool stage with a 5-3 win over Malaysia, and the biggest reason was Tom Boon. The Belgium forward scored four goals as the world No.1 side closed out Pool B in second place behind Germany.
Thibeau Stockbroekx added Belgium’s other goal in a match that had plenty of scoring and a few notable moments beyond Boon’s performance. For Malaysia, Aiman Rozemi found the net while also celebrating his 200th cap, giving the game a milestone moment even in defeat.
How Belgium got it done
Boon’s four-goal display proved decisive in a match Belgium controlled well enough to stay ahead on the scoreboard, even with Malaysia striking three times. The 5-3 result ensured Belgium’s second-place finish in Pool B and left them behind Germany in the standings.
The match also fit into a busy pool-stage schedule that produced several clear results, including Australia’s 4-4 draw with Chile, the Netherlands’ 9-0 win over Japan, Argentina’s 2-0 win over Scotland, Germany’s 3-1 win over the USA, India’s 5-3 win over Pakistan, and France’s 1-1 draw with Germany.
For Belgium, the headline was Boon’s rare four-goal outing. For Malaysia, Rozemi’s 200th appearance provided a personal milestone in a difficult team result.
