Belgium 5-2 Tunisia
I suppose the beauty of events such as World Cup 2018 is its propensity to throw up fixtures like this one.
Wherever they are in the globe, SBOBET’s team of writers will tell you a match like this should be a mismatch.
Any World Cup 2018 betting odds will also tell you as much, which is to be expected given they have some of the best individuals in the world.
But does boss Roberto Martinez fit the system to suit the players or does he shunt exciting pegs into round holes? This, finally, suggests the former.
Highlights of the game
This match suggested an exercise in attack versus defence.
Tunisia’s record in the tournament – this is their first appearance a World Cup since 2006 – is dreadful, and in many ways, they seemed ideal opponents for Belgium in the Otkritie Arena.
And so it proved from virtually the first whistle as captain Eden Hazard won and converted a penalty to give the Red Devils a sixth-minute lead.
Quickly it was two as the in-form Romelu Lukaku slammed a left-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner after being played through by Dries Mertens.
It seemed chants of ‘easy’ may be considered, yet Nabil Maaloul’s men proved against England they can be obdurate opponents.
Within two minutes (109 seconds to be precise), Tunisia hit back as Wahbi Khazri curled the ball into the danger zone and Dylan Bronn headed home.
Although Belgium immediately came close to restoring their two-goal lead through Yannick Carrasco, Martinez’s side then came up against a form of resistance similar to that provided by Panama in their opening match.
The North African side put men behind the ball while attempting to play on the counter-attack.
Despite seeing the luckless Bronn carried off after he turned his knee and then losing another player, Syam Ben Youssef, to injury, Tunisia gave it their all and looked to be heading to the break only one goal adrift.
Yet as Belgium probed for another breakthrough, Lukaku added a crucial third in the final seconds of half-time.
A superb finish after fine work from Thomas Meunier, it took his tally to 40 goals in 71 games for Belgium, including 17 in his last 11 internationals.
It also completely deflated Tunisia who had shown real dynamism after the first quarter of an hour. Yet as the players departed at the break, you knew it was game over and Belgium won with ease.
Six minutes after the restart came Hazard’s second with an excellent run and finish from an equally fine Kevin de Bruyne pass.
It seemed more goals would flow but Martinez took Lukaku – who had received treatment during the first half – and Hazard off to rest and take no risks ahead of their final group match.
There still should have been more.
Substitute Michy Batshuayi rounded Ben Mustapha but failed to connect cleanly with his effort which was cleared and then, after the goalkeeper parried out a Carrasco effort, somehow fired his shot against the underside of the bar when it seemed easier to score.
In truth, Batshuayi should have had a six-minute hat-trick and was denied by Mustapha again after De Bruyne pulled the ball back.
But it didn’t matter.
He finally got his name on the scoresheet at the fourth attempt to seal a 5-1 success.
How ironic that it was his most difficult chance of all after sub Youri Tielemans crossed the ball across.
In the closing seconds, Tunisia got a second their spirited merited – Khazri the marksman – but Belgium had found their rhythm and the ‘Golden Generation’, for which so much is expected, are beginning to show they are every bit worthy of that tag.
Key statistics
This was the fourth meeting between Belgium and Tunisia with the record now at Belgium two wins, Tunisia one victory and one draw.
This was their second meeting at a World Cup after a 1-1 draw at the 2002 group stage.
Belgium are unbeaten in their last 11 World Cup group games and have won the previous six.
Tunisia have failed to win their last 13 World Cup games since winning their first-ever match against Mexico in 1978. That, incidentally, was the first match won by an African side at the World Cup.
What’s next?
The clash between Belgium and England could be one of the World Cup 2018 highlights.
It is effectively the clash of the Group G big hitters. That meeting in Kaliningrad next week (June 28) will likely determine who tops the standings.
Tunisia meet Panama at the same time in the Mordovia Arena in Saransk.
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