# 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

| Draw position | Team | Confederation | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | FIFA Rankings | FIFA Rankings |
| Draw position | Team | Confederation | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance | Last appearance | Previous best performance | October 2013 | 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 | 2002 | Fourth place (1966) | 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

* ↑ The rankings of October 2013 were used for seeding for the final draw.
* ↑ 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.
* ↑ Russia's best result is group stage in 1994 and 2002. However, FIFA considers Russia as the successor team of the Soviet Union.

## Standings

| 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 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Russia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | South Korea | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 1 | |
* 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.
| 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

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.
| 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

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.
| 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

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.
| 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

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.
| 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

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, 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.
| 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)