Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku both scored twice as Belgium eased past Tunisia 5-2.
Below are four talking points from the game in Moscow.
Belgium turn on style to take control of Group G
After a flat and uninspiring first-half showing against Panama last time out, Belgium came flying out of the traps here. The deadlock was broken via a Hazard penalty in the sixth penalty, and the Red Devils continued to move the ball quickly and sharply in the first quarter of the game, with Lukaku doubling their advantage in the 16th minute.
Tunisia had a good spell towards the end of the opening period, but Belgium’s football in the final third was slick throughout this encounter. Wing-backs Thomas Meunier and Yannick Carrasco pushed forward to overwhelm their opponents in advanced areas, with Hazard, Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Dries Mertens also heavily involved in attacking moves. For much of this match, Roberto Martinez’s men were a joy to watch.
Tunisia’s defensive shakiness punished
Tunisia were extremely conservative in their narrow 2-1 defeat by England on Monday, when it looked like they would pick up a point until Harry Kane nodded home the winner in second-half stoppage time. Despite their defence-minded approach, the Eagles of Carthage gave up a number of excellent chances, particularly in the first half – and they were again very easy to unseat at the back.
Belgium scored four goals and could easily have had more, with substitute Michy Batshuayi spurning three opportunities before finally getting his name on the scoresheet late on. The Red Devils continually broke in behind and sliced the Tunisia rearguard open on numerous occasions, while Nabil Maaloul’s defenders were often guilty of overplaying too close to their own danger zone.
Belgium front three one of the best in the competition
Hazard, Mertens and Lukaku were a joy to watch during their time together on the Spartak Stadium pitch. The trio interchanged brilliantly for much of the first half, with Hazard a particular threat with his wonderful dribbling, speed and balance. Lukaku looks sharp in front of goal and Mertens has adapted well to the right-sided role he has not really been playing at Napoli in the last couple of seasons.
Martinez opted to substitute all three forwards in the second half, but Belgium did not look any less dangerous. Kevin De Bruyne was pushed into a No.10 role and caused havoc between the lines, threading balls in behind the Tunisia backline and creating chances for Batshuayi. When this attack clicks, they are very difficult to stop.
How could England beat this Belgium side?
Despite the comprehensive nature of the scoreline, Belgium did show one or two vulnerabilities against Tunisia – and Gareth Southgate will have been watching closely ahead of England’s meetings with the Red Devils on Thursday.
Carrasco is not a natural defender and continually left space in behind him, with the 24-year-old often one of his team’s most advanced players in the second half. Tunisia’s second goal came down that side of the pitch and England should look to exploit those gaps next time out. There was also room to be had in the centre of the pitch in transition, with De Bruyne and Axel Witsel capable of being overrun in a midfield two.
