Belgium coach Roberto Martinez revealed on Friday he has been keeping one eye on next week’s blockbuster clash with England in the lead-up to the Red Devils’ Group G match against Tunisia. Barring major upsets, the 28 June tie against Gareth Southgate’s men in Kaliningrad will decide who tops the group and Martinez was wary of England’s threat. [caption id=“attachment_4579811” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Eden Hazard celebrates scoring Belgium’s fourth goal. AP/Matthias Schrader[/caption] He indicated Belgium will be particularly vigilant during set-pieces, noting that 60 percent of goals at the tournament so far had come from dead-ball situations, including both of Harry Kane’s strikes in England’s 2-1 win over Tunisia. “England are very strong in dead-ball situations,” he said. “They use a lot of bodies, up to six in the box and they’ve got fantastic movement and fantastic delivery.” But Martinez was not allowing the England match to distract him from his immediate priority in Moscow on Saturday against Tunisia, a team he picked as a potential surprise package ahead of the tournament. “We respect Tunisia’s threat but they’re a team that need to come out and win the game, so they’ll make it very, very open,” he said. “In that respect, if we look after our performance we’ll get settled into that sort of game.” Belgium are ranked third in the world, behind only Germany and Brazil, but Martinez said there was no room for complacency against Tunisian, ranked 21. “This team has really high-tempo play, they’ll try and find players running behind, use good speed,” he said. “It’s a team that forces you to concentrate every second. “But we need to be ourselves. I’m looking at how we can improve on how we played against Panama.” The Red Devils’ best run at a World Cup is third place in 1986 but they are regarded as dark horses for the title in Russia. It is possibly the last chance to shine on the world stage for a “golden generation” of Belgian talent, including Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens. While Martinez said many of his players were “at a good stage in their careers”, he played down the golden generation tag, saying Belgium had achieved nothing yet in Russia. “The World Cup does not respect generations, the World Cup doesn’t respect individual names, it only respects winning teams,” he said. Martinez added that Kompany and fellow defender Thomas Vermaelen were “medically ready” after suffering injuries, but lack the match fitness to start against Tunisia. Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul said his young squad were nervous in their first appearance on the World Cup stage against England but they would be more confident against Belgium. “Our team is capable of unlocking the Belgium defence… perhaps the sense of fear will be absent tomorrow and we will be able to deliver,” he said. With inputs from AFP. Click here for full coverage of FIFA World Cup 2018
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Highlights Belgium vs Tunisia, FIFA World Cup 2018, Match 27 in Spartak Stadium: Belgium thrash Tunisia 5-2
Catch the live scores and updates of the FIFA World Cup 2018 clash between an in-form Belgium and Tunisia.
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Entertaining game!
So that’s all we have for now. This has been an entertaining one for us and hopefully, you also enjoyed the match. Belgium scoring five is not much of a surprise but then it’s also eye-pleasing to see the famed attackers of Belgium scoring goals. Good day at the office for Lukaku, Hazard and Batshuayi.
We will be back again with the live coverage of the Germany vs Sweden match.
Do join us then.
Well done, Belgium!
The story of Batshuayi!
BEL 5-2 TUN
Handshakes and hugs all around in the Belgian camp. Martinez applauds the fans. It’s been a vintage Belgian performance. Have the other contenders taken notice? Their attacking prowess is almost unlimited, but their defense remains the Achilles heel. The Tunisians trod off, understandably subdued. It’s not been their afternoon and they are on the brink of elimination. From us here it’s goodbye in Moscow, and – beware of the Belgians!
BEL 5-2 TUN
To my left, the Belgian fans are in full voice, but they fall silent as Tunisian captain Khazri taps in a second, totally unmarked inside the Belgian box. Belgian defending is quite atrocious. It’s a concern for Martinez and co if they want to progress beyond the quarter-finals.
Full-time! BEL 5-2 TUN
A proper goal-fest. Belgium, though, clearly a better side as they hit five and clinch the match.
90 + 2’ BEL 5-2 TUN
Tunisia pull one back thanks to captain Khazri.
90 + 1’ BEL 5-1 TUN
And there it is at last. Relief for Batshuayi. He has missed some preposterous chances and a chance for six-minute hat-trick, but he is on the end of cross to complete the rout. Assist from the sub Tielemans. Well, and Batshuayi gets another marvellous chance. Again, he misses. Belgium need to be just a bit more clinical.
90’ BEL 5-1 TUN
Tielemans makes instant impact after coming on. He delivers a delightful ball to Batshuayi, who, for a change, converts the chance.
Meanwhile, three minutes added on.
89’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Tielemans has come on. He is another bright, Belgian talent. The number 17 came trough the ranks at Brussels-based club Anderlecht and today plies his trade in Ligue 1 with AS Monaco.
88’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Tunisia are down and out. They are now focussing on defending, not allowing Belgium to score another goal. They tried their best but Belgium and their quality was too much for the North African country.
82’ BEL 4-1 TUN
It is a game inside a game now. Batshuayi against the Tunisian defense. Three fine chances, but no goal yet for the Belgian striker.
81’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Chance after chance for Batshuayi. This time, the Tunisian goalkeeper pulls off a blinder to deny him.
80’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Yet another chance for Batshuayi and yet another terrible miss. This time, he hits the post from six yards out.
78’ BEL 4-1 TUN
The rain, the sunshine and the Mexican wave. It’s a beautiful afternoon in the Russian capital as this match is slowly meandering towards its end.
76’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Batshuayi beats the last defender and the goalkeeper but there was no sting in his shot as Tunisia defender clears the ball heading towards the goal.
75’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Mildly upsetting, but no goals in the last 20 minutes. Standards are dropping! You can understand Martinez though giving a rest to Lukaku and Hazard. Maaloul has thrown the kitchen sink by bringing Sliti on. Basically, Tunisia have five attackers on the field. Sound logic from their coach: they have nothing to lose anymore.
71’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Neat turn and shot from Badri, but Courtois has no problem with the bobbler. Belgium has taken the sting out of the game. They can control the game and even conserve their energy for their clash with England next week. Batshuayi, who replaced Hazard, arguably the man of the match, is leading Belgium’s line now. Mertens is playing behind him, in the hole.
67’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Michy Batshuayi replaces Eden Hazard.
So no hat-trick for the Chelsea star.
66’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Badri and Sliti exchange a lovely one-two before the former fires one to the goal. Nothing comes out of it.
Two stars of Belgium!
62’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Lukaku is replaced by Fellaini. Mertens moves up top. Tunisia meanwhile make their final change: Sliti comes on for Slitti. You sense Belgium aren’t done scoring yet.
60’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Change for both the teams
Sliti replaces Sassi for Tunisia while Lukaku goes off and Fellaini comes in.
So Mertens will play centre-forward for Belgium.
Expected from this team, right?
56’ BEL 4-1 TUN
Tunisia maintain their positive state of mind. They keep trying, but their defending has let them down. Both Lukaku and Hazard could complete a hat-trick here.
55’ BEL 4-1 TUN
De Bruyne was relatively quite so far but then again there’s a reason why he’s considered as one of the best midfielders in the game. Great vision from the Manchester City player to find Hazard in the front.
53’ BEL 4-1 TUN
No-nonsense start again. Alderweireld should do better with his near-post flick from a low De Bruybe cross. At the other end,…scrap all that, again. Hazard kills the game off. It’s a wonderful ball over the top and the Belgian captain circumvents the Tunisian keeper and scores in between Ben Alouane and Hamdi Naguez, the two subs. He did well to keep his balance. De Bruyne with a perfect assist. Game over.
51’ BEL 4-1 TUN
HAZARD! EDEN HAZARD!
Hazard collects the ball from De Bruyne on his chest, dribbles past the incoming goalkeeper and calmly slots the ball inside the net. Surely, game over for Tunisia!
48’ BEL 3-1 TUN
Can Tunisia contain Lukaku in the second half? He is been omnipresent. Against Panama, he was nigh invisible. He has fostered a good understanding with Mertens in this game.
45’ BEL 3-1 TUN
So another 45 exciting minutes in store? Let’s find out. Tunisia have shown a lot of ambition, but Belgium’s firepower is something else. A very old school game and even the second half won’t finish 0-0.
Belgium, the dominating side!
Lukaku, the legend!
The goal-machine!
https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1010505813805412353
BEL 3-1 TUN
Excellent finishing by Lukaku. Ronaldo has a challenger…
Both players have scored four goals so far in the tournament.
Half-time! BEL 3-1 TUN
It’s settled down a bit towards the end of the half, but that was an exhilarating 45 minutes of supreme World Cup action. Goals, attacking, VAR, injuries and relentless open-ended football. Can we please have a more of this in the tournament, and the second half? Hazard, De Bruyne and Lukaku exposed Tunisia again at the very end. It’s Lukaku, who gets his fourth of the tournament, with a nice, neat, little dink. That’s hammer blow for Tunisia. The Africans found joy in behind the Belgian back line, and space between the midfield combo of De Bruyne and Witsel – but this may now be out of their reach.
BEL 3-1 TUN
You just can’t stop Lukaku!
What a play from Belgium. Meunier collects a misplaced pass, gives it to De Bruyne and then takes the ball to assist Lukaku, who finishes with a deft shot.
Top stuff!
42’ BEL 2-1 TUN
Belgium remain very lopsided. First to the ball, imposing and with plenty of options on the ball going forward – but at the back they remain very jittery. The game is taking its toll on the Tunisian rearguard. Now it’s Ben Youssef who is stretchered off, second enforced whistle for Maaloul with Ben Alouane coming on.
41’ BEL 2-1 TUN
Yet another player Tunisian player goes out on a stretcher. This time, it is Ben Youssef and he’s replaced by Benalouane
40’ BEL 2-1 TUN
This game is absurd. The definition of defending goes ‘resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger’ but it seems both Belgium and Tunisia don’t want to protect anyone or anything. Ben Mustapha nearly spilled a ball at the foot of Mertens.