Group G
Belgium 3 ( RomeloLukaku 2, Dries Mortens 1) : Panama 0
Off all the teams considered favorites for World Cup 2018 only Belgium lived up to the billing winning easy 3-0 margin against World Cup debutant Panama. That also happened after sluggish start in the first half when spirited Panama could hold them 0-0. Once the flood gate opened goal one, two and three came and there were potential for more. With other favorites of the group England struggling against Tunisia in their injury time solitary goal Belgium looked like finishing the group on top.
There was Pacific Ocean wide gap in skill and quality of the two teams Belgium and Panama. But spirited Panama kept a bit confused Belgians at bay for 45 minutes of the first half when they even attacked a few times. Panama Manager Herman Dario Bolilo Gomez announced that for his team, there would be four possible outcomes in three world cup matches they play in their very first appearance in the elite tournament. They could win, they could draw, they could loose and they could be goleado – roundly defeated. 4000 Panama fans traveled 7200 miles o Russian City Sochi to cheer their brave boys. They even outnumbered European team Belgium fans 4:1. Cheering full throat they were egging on their players that encouraged them proving equal to vast superior opponents for 50% of the match. But ultimately they succumbed. A lovely measured volley from Dries Mortens and two from RomeloLukaku completed the routing.
In my family we have multimode support me Brazil, Rozy Argentina, Shuvro Spain and Avro ;England and Belgium. I am aware that over the last 8 -10 years, Belgium has completely overhauled their domestic football format. Many quality teenagers are spotted, nourished through plans and matured. The present team is a mix of experienced veterans and quality young players. Many observers included Belgium as a team having potential for going all the way.
Looking at them in the first half against Panama actually did not impress us. Perhaps from the trend of this world cup where favorites stumbled one after another Belgians were extra cautious. But in the second half when apparently new team ran out of steam and idea experienced Belgium exploited the situation.
Belgium is now unbeaten in 11 of their last world cup games winning the last five. Each of the 11 goals they scored came after half time. Tough tacking Panama received as many as five yellow cards – the highest after 2010.
Every time Panama was on the ball the terrace cracked. Panama was looking to repeat what Iceland did to Argentina or Switzerland to Brazil. They were looking eye to eye with their vast superior opponents in every department of the game till the breather.
But after half time, vastly experienced Belgium appeared with a plan which they clinically executed. An extraordinary Morten’s volley broke the ice. From the top right corner of area it flew past Torres and Penedo into the Panama new two minutes into the second half ( 1-0) . Belgium came back to their own.
From then on, Belgium wretched total control. De Bruyen bent a wonderful cross with the outside of his feet to Lukaku to dive and head home (2-0) .Lukaku scored again soon from a neat pass chipping it over Penedo making it 3-0.
Belgium looks great and looks like finishing on top of Group G as the other top flight team England huffed and puffed in piping Tunisia to the post only just scoring at the dying moments of the match.
In various analyses, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Spain and France were tipped as hot favorites, Belgium, England and Portugal were also discussed. We have seen how Germany, Argentina, Brazil and England disappointed. Belgium has impressed in that background.
BDST: 1146 HRS, JUN 19, 2018
AH
