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 Draw position Team Confederation Method ofqualification Date ofqualification Finalsappearance Lastappearance Previous bestperformance FIFA Rankings October 2013 June 2014 H1 (seed) UEFA UEFA Group A winners 11 October 2013 12th 2002 Fourth place (1986) 5 11 H2 CAF CAF third round winners 19 November 2013 4th 2010 Group stage (1982, 1986, 2010) 32 22 H3 UEFA UEFA Group F winners 15 October 2013 10th 2002 Fourth place (1966) 19 19 H4 AFC AFC fourth round Group A 2nd runners-up 18 June 2013 9th 2010 Fourth place (2002) 56 57
Notes
Standings
Belgium advanced to play the United States (the runners-up of Group G) in the round of 16. Algeria advanced to play Germany (the winners of Group G) in the round of 16.
Matches Belgium vs Algeria The two teams had met in two previous matches, both friendlies, most recently in 2003, won 3–1 by Belgium.
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. 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.
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.
GK 1 Thibaut CourtoisRB 2 Toby AlderweireldCB 15Daniel Van BuytenCB 4 Vincent Kompany (c)LB 5 Jan Vertonghen CM 6 Axel WitselCM 19Moussa Dembélé RW 22Nacer Chadli AM 7 Kevin De BruyneLW 10Eden HazardCF 9 Romelu Lukaku Substitutions:FW 14Dries Mertens FW 17Divock Origi MF 8 Marouane Fellaini Manager:Marc Wilmots GK 23Raïs M'BolhiRB 22Mehdi MostefaCB 2 Madjid Bougherra (c)CB 5 Rafik HallicheLB 3 Faouzi GhoulamRM 19Saphir TaïderCM 12Carl Medjani LM 14Nabil Bentaleb AM 10Sofiane FeghouliAM 21Riyad Mahrez CF 15Hillal Soudani Substitutions:FW 13Islam Slimani MF 8 Mehdi Lacen FW 9 Nabil Ghilas 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 The two teams had met in one previous match, in a friendly in 2013.
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. 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.
GK 1 Igor AkinfeevRB 22Andrey YeshchenkoCB 4 Sergei IgnashevichCB 14Vasili Berezutski (c)LB 23Dmitri KombarovDM 8 Denis Glushakov CM 20Viktor FayzulinCM 18Yuri Zhirkov RW 19Aleksandr SamedovLW 17Oleg Shatov CF 9 Aleksandr KokorinSubstitutions:MF 10Alan Dzagoev FW 11Aleksandr Kerzhakov MF 7 Igor Denisov Manager: Fabio Capello GK 1 Jung Sung-ryongRB 12Lee YongCB 5 Kim Young-gwonCB 20Hong Jeong-ho LB 3 Yun Suk-youngCM 16Ki Sung-yueng CM 14Han Kook-youngRW 17Lee Chung-yongAM 13Koo Ja-cheol (c) LW 9Son Heung-min CF 10Park Chu-young Substitutions:FW 11Lee Keun-ho DF 6 Hwang Seok-ho MF 7 Kim Bo-kyung 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 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).
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.
GK 1 Thibaut CourtoisRB 2 Toby Alderweireld CB 15Daniel Van BuytenCB 4 Vincent Kompany (c)LB 3 Thomas Vermaelen CM 6 Axel Witsel CM 8 Marouane FellainiRW 14Dries Mertens AM 7 Kevin De BruyneLW 10Eden HazardCF 9 Romelu Lukaku Substitutions:DF 5 Jan Vertonghen FW 17Divock Origi MF 11Kevin Mirallas Manager:Marc Wilmots GK 1 Igor AkinfeevRB 2 Aleksei Kozlov CB 14Vasili Berezutski (c)CB 4 Sergei IgnashevichLB 23Dmitri KombarovDM 8 Denis Glushakov CM 20Viktor FayzulinRW 19Aleksandr Samedov AM 6 Maksim KanunnikovLW 17Oleg Shatov CF 9 Aleksandr KokorinSubstitutions:DF 22Andrey Yeshchenko MF 10Alan Dzagoev FW 11Aleksandr Kerzhakov 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 The two teams had met in two previous matches, both in friendlies both in 1985.
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. 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.
Algeria became the first African team to score four goals in a World Cup match, a record that stood for 12 years until Senegal surpassed it with a 5–0 victory over Iraq in 2026.
GK 1 Jung Sung-ryongRB 12Lee Yong CB 20Hong Jeong-hoCB 5 Kim Young-gwonLB 3 Yun Suk-youngCM 14Han Kook-young CM 16Ki Sung-yuengRW 17Lee Chung-yong AM 13Koo Ja-cheol (c)LW 9Son Heung-minCF 10 Park Chu-young Substitutions:FW 18Kim Shin-wook FW 11Lee Keun-ho FW 19Ji Dong-won Manager:Hong Myung-bo GK 23Raïs M'BolhiCB 12Carl MedjaniCB 2 Madjid Bougherra (c) CB 5 Rafik HallicheRWB20Aïssa MandiLWB6 Djamel MesbahCM 11Yacine Brahimi CM 18Abdelmoumene Djabou RW 10Sofiane FeghouliLW 14Nabil BentalebCF 13Islam SlimaniSubstitutions:FW 9 Nabil Ghilas MF 8 Mehdi Lacen DF 4 Essaïd Belkalem 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 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).
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.
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.
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.
GK 21Kim Seung-gyuRB 12Lee YongCB 5 Kim Young-gwonCB 20Hong Jeong-ho LB 3 Yun Suk-youngCM 14Han Kook-young CM 16Ki Sung-yuengRW 17Lee Chung-yongAM 13Koo Ja-cheol (c)LW 9 Son Heung-min CF 18Kim Shin-wook Substitutions:FW 11Lee Keun-ho MF 7 Kim Bo-kyung FW 19Ji Dong-won Manager:Hong Myung-bo GK 1 Thibaut CourtoisRB 21Anthony Vanden BorreCB 15Daniel Van BuytenCB 18Nicolas LombaertsLB 5 Jan Vertonghen (c)CM 16Steven Defour CM 19Moussa Dembélé RW 14Dries Mertens AM 8 Marouane FellainiLW 20Adnan Januzaj CF 11Kevin Mirallas Substitutions:MF 22Nacer Chadli FW 17Divock Origi MF 10Eden Hazard 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
The two teams had met in three previous matches (only involving matches during the time period of the Soviet Union).
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.
For Algeria's goal, television replays showed that Akinfeev had a green laser light shining in his face during the play. 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,FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations — see page 96, "g" and other violations of the rules by Algerian fans.
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.
GK 23Raïs M'BolhiRB 20Aïssa MandiCB 4 Essaïd BelkalemCB 5 Rafik Halliche (c)LB 6 Djamel Mesbah CM 12Carl MedjaniCM 14Nabil BentalebRW 10Sofiane FeghouliAM 11Yacine Brahimi LW 18Abdelmoumene Djabou CF 13Islam Slimani Substitutions:MF 7 Hassan Yebda FW 9 Nabil Ghilas FW 15Hillal Soudani Other disciplinary actions:DF 17Liassine Cadamuro Manager: Vahid Halilhodžić GK 1 Igor AkinfeevRB 2 Aleksei Kozlov CB 14Vasili Berezutski (c)CB 4 Sergei IgnashevichLB 23Dmitri Kombarov CM 8 Denis Glushakov CM 20Viktor FayzulinRW 19Aleksandr SamedovAM 9 Aleksandr KokorinLW 17Oleg Shatov CF 11Aleksandr Kerzhakov Substitutions:MF 7 Igor Denisov MF 10Alan Dzagoev FW 6 Maksim Kanunnikov 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 Algeria at the FIFA World Cup Belgium at the FIFA World Cup