There is a delicious irony in the image that will endure from Belgium’s astonishing 3-2 victory over Senegal.
Not the controversial penalty in the 120+4th minute. Not even the winning goal that sent Belgium into the World Cup last 16. It is Youri Tielemans embracing Leandro Trossard after heading in the equaliser in the 89th minute, moments after the pair had spent much of the second half arguing over a cross.
Belgium were staring at elimination. Senegal led 2-0, having struck through Habib Diarra in the first half and Ismaila Sarr either side of it. The Golden Generation’s final World Cup challenge appeared to be ending in Seattle.
Then, frustration surfaced.
Earlier in the second half, Tielemans had chosen to whip an early delivery into the box towards Romelu Lukaku instead of recycling possession through midfield. Trossard was furious at what he saw as the wrong decision. By the cooling break, the disagreement had escalated into a heated confrontation that teammates, including Lukaku, had to separate.
At that point, Belgium seemed to be falling apart in yet another World Cup. But Lukaku gave them hope in the 86th minute with a close-range finish, as late as Belgium had ever trailed by two goals and survived at a World Cup. Then, three minutes later, Trossard drifted down the left and delivered the cross. Tielemans arrived late, as he has done throughout his career, and powered the header beyond the goalkeeper.