Belgium 3-0 Panama
With the attacking verve of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, the goal threat of Romelu Lukaku and the most defensive of foundations supplied by the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, it’s no surprise Belgium have been lauded as potential winners of FIFA 2018.
Indeed, such were the SBOBET odds on a Belgium victory before this tie kicked off, it seemed barely credible there could be any FIFA 2018 predictions which backed Panama anywhere outside of central America.
Clearly superior, this could and should have been a whitewash. Belgium have certainly blitzed such opponents in the past.
Yet this professional performance, more than the result, against very limited opposition took a while coming before this nation started to live up to its undoubted talent.
Highlights of the game
This game may not feature greatly when we look back at the FIFA 2018 highlights but the goal which broke the deadlock after a frustrating 45 minutes in Sochi certainly will.
It was just 105 seconds into the second half when Dries Mertens struck a stunning volley after a corner was only half cleared.
The technique could not have been better and it is a goal you are likely to see on any World Cup show reel again and again.
Likewise, the second which killed off the contest 22 minutes from time saw Hazard and De Bruyne combine their world class talents and Lukaku supply an expert finish – all this after the frontman had spent most of the afternoon starved of service and living off scraps in an underwhelming team showing lacking urgency.
Amazingly, in between the goals, Panama had their own glorious opportunity when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denied Michael Murillo.
But this, remember, was a team which made it to Russia against the odds with a negative goal difference in qualifying so a positive result was unlikely in the first meeting between the two countries.
As the central Americans naturally tired, Lukakutook full advantage with his second and Belgium’s third – his 15th goals in his last 10 games – six minutes later, racing onto another Hazard pass and it was game over.
Even I had finally got a prediction right at this tournament!
In truth, it had looked ominous early on, as if one goal could merely open the floodgates.
There was pressure, if not always urgency, from virtually the start as goalkeeper Jaime Penedo tipped over a shot from Mertens; captain Roman Torres got away with a terrible backpass which the lurking Hazard nearly benefited from; and Penedothen denied Hazard at his near post.
But Panama manager Hernan Dario Gomez, becoming just the fourth man to lead at least three different teams at a World Cup having coached his native Colombia in 1998 and Ecuador in 2002, would have been understandably proud at half-time.
That was as good as it got on an historic day for the country who are 55th in the world rankings and whose president declared a public holiday after qualifying.
During a rousing anthem, Torres and no doubt many of his countryman were reduced to tears – the significance of the day hitting home – and there is no question players, management and fans should be satisfied with their efforts.
But, realistically, anyone who has seen Panama in action knows while they have plenty of enthusiasm, there is insufficient quality to trouble most opponents and England must be licking their lips ahead of their forthcoming clash.
Key statistics
Belgium are now unbeaten in their last 10 World Cup group games (W5, D5), winning each of their last five.
Belgium are also now unbeaten in their last 20 matches dating back to September 2016.
Dries Mertens is the first Belgium player to score in two World Cup tournaments since Marc Wilmots (1998 and 2002) – Wilmotswas Roberto Martinez’s successor as Belgium manager.
The Fisht Olympic Stadium, where this Group G opener was played, is not actually a football stadium.
However, it will become the home of Russian second division side Dinamo Saint Petersburg after the World Cup.
How can Thomas Meunier be booked for a 13th minute incident? Watch it back, use VAR and get it rescinded. On the biggest professional stage of all, this was beyond an amateur decision.
What’s next?
With the likes of influential defender Vincent Kompany still to come back, Belgium will surely only get stronger, although they will need more urgency against better opponents.
They can seal qualification to the last 16 with victory against Tunisia in the Otkrytie Arena in Moscow on Saturday (June 23).
Panama now face England on Sunday (June 24) in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
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