Bola.com, Sochi - Tim nasional Belgia berpeluang meraih tiga poin perdana saat menghadapi Panama pada matchday pertama Grup G Piala Dunia 2018 di Olimpiyskiy Stadion Fisht, Sochi, Rusia, Senin (18/6/2018).
Belgia tergabung di Grup G bersama Panama, Tunisia, dan Inggris. Mau tidak mau membuat Belgia wajib meraih poin penuh atas Panama agar peluangnya lolos ke babak selanjutnya terbuka lebar, mengingat lawan menanti adalah The Three Lions.
Di atas kertas, Belgia diprediksi tidak akan kesulitan saat menghadapi Panama. Namun, Belgia wajib mewaspadai daya juang Panama yang tentu tidak ingin pulang dengan hasil hampa.
Belgia belum dapat memainkan bek andalanya, Vincent Kompany dan Thomas Vermaelen yang kondisnya diberitakan belum fit 100 persen karena mengalami cedera. Sebagai pengganti, pelatih timnas Belgia, Roberto Martinez, ditengarai akan memainkan pengganti, Deryck Boyata.
"Vermaelen menunjukkan perkembangan yang bagus, namun dia menyatakan tidak ingin bermain dulu melawan Panama. Vincent Kompany akan kami lihat perkembangannya hingga menit-menit akhir jelang laga. Namun, kami optimistis perkembangan pemulihan cedera keduanya berlangsung sangat baik," kata Martinez.
Di Grup G, Inggris merupakan lawan terberat Belgia. Meski demikian, Eden Hazard dan kawan-kawan memiliki modal bagus, termasuk satu di antaranya adalah catatan tidak terkalahkan dalam 19 pertandingan di bawah asuhan Roberto Martinez.
"Menurut saya, kami tahu seberapa kuat tim ini. Saya berharap kami dapat melangkah jauh di turnamen ini," ujar striker timnas Belgia, Dries Martens.
Panama akan melakoni debut di ajang Piala Dunia, tahun ini. Meski demikian, Panama mendapatkan hasil minor dalam beberapa laga uji coba, termasuk kekalahan melawan Denmark, Swiss, dan Norwegia.
Akan tetapi, para pemain Panama menyatakan tidak akan menyerah begitu saja. Menurut bek Panama, Roman Torres, rekan-rekannya akan berusaha maksimal mencuri poin atas lawan-lawannya di Grup G, termasuk tim nasional Belgia .
"Sekarang, kami sudah berada di sini. Kenyataannya untuk menang dan melangkah ke babak selanjutnya, kami membutuhkan kerja keras dua atau tiga kali dari yang biasa kami lakukan. Ini adalah mental yang kami usung begitu lolos ke turnamen ini," kata Roman Torres.
Belgia: Thibaut Courtois; Jan Vertonghen, Deryck Boyata, Toby Alderweireld; Yannick Carrasco, Alex Witsel, Kevin de Bruyne, Thomas Meunier; Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Martens
Panama: Jaime Penedo; Michael Murillo, Adolfo Machado, Romain Torres, Fidel Escobar, Luis Ovalle; Ricardo Avila, Anibal Godoy, Gabriel Gomez, Edgar Barcenas; Gabriel Torres
Belgium became the first of the World Cup favorites to put in a truly dominating performance after comparative failures by Germany, Brazil and Argentina. This generation of talent has threatened a deep run at several recent major tournaments. Panama was not the sternest challenge, but the signs are there that this may be the year.
• Here’s the 2018 World Cup schedule.
Here’s how Belgium beat Panama, 3-0:
89’: Yellow for De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne went for a high kick and his boot found the stomach of Barcenas. A yellow for the Belgian midfield star, which could come back to haunt him in the tournament. Two yellows before the semifinals earns a one-game suspension.
86’: Belgium Lives Up to Hype
Belgium becomes the first of the favorites to really put in a dominating performance at the Cup. France did not. Argentina and Brazil drew against weaker opposition, and Germany lost. Spain and Portugal put on a great show, but that game ended in a draw as well.
83’: Panama Losing Grip
At this point, Panama may well be looking to avoid the kind of late goal bonanza that left Saudi Arabia a 5-0 loser. Belgium has had no shortage of opportunites here.
76’: GOAL! 3-0.
Belgium broke forward, a racing Hazard found an equally fleet Lukaku and he slotted it home. Blowout.
Andrew Das: I guess we have our answer about Belgium’s inevitability and Panama’s stamina. Lukaku vs. Torres was the day’s heavyweight fight, and there’s your knockout.
75’: Belgium’s Spurs
Dembele checks in, giving Tottenham three men on the field along with Toby Alderweireld and Vertonghen.
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73’: Panama Look Beaten
Panama is in a world of trouble now, but they managed to fire off a lobbed shot that the tall Courtois gathered. Getting 2 goals in 20 minutes looks virtually impossible for Panama barring a Belgium meltdown of some sort.
69’: GOAL! Belgium 2-0
The way it was supposed to happen in this game. Belgium whips it around the penalty area, De Bruyne kicks it to Lukaku, who puts it in with a diving header.
68’: Belgium Keeping Possession
Belgium passed the ball for several minutes all around the Panama half. It’s going to be tough for Panama to score if they can’t even touch it.
63’: Another Corner for Belgium
Header off a corner by Jan Vertonghen, which is easily taken by Panama keeper Penedo.
62’: Panama Plays Long Ball — to No Avail
Yannick Carrasco of Belgium was tripped up, giving the ball to Panama. Their offensive tactic was to hoof the ball miles upfield. Maybe that’s their best bet against Belgium, but it’s no dice this time.
59’: Barcenas Threatens for Panama
A through ball found a charging Barcenas, who, though surrounded by several Belgians, got a shot off. It was wide, but that was a little dicey for Belgium.
56’: Panama Tries to Counter
Because Belgium is pressing for a second goal, Panama gets a strong counter opportunity, but Courtois handles the rush. Panama’s corner was headed well wide by Torres.
52’: De Bruyne Misses on Free Kick
After Panama’s Michael Murillo is booked for a foul on Yannick Carrasco, De Bruyne stands over the free kick, just outside the box. De Bruyne standing over a close-in free kick has to be a terrifying sight for Panama. D
But De Bruyne’s attempt went just too high and wide.
48’: GOAL! Belgium
Belgium gets that goal. Once again the ball pinged around the area for Belgium and this time it came out straight to Dries Mertens. He one timed it from the edge of the penalty area straight into goal.
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You get enough chances and usually one does turn into a goal. The play didn’t look more promising than many in this game, but this time the ball fell kindly to Mertens and this time his shot was true.
Andrew Das: Fantastic finish by Mertens out of nothing, picking that deflection out of the air and getting it up and down over the goalkeeper so effortlessly. He’s the Belgian you forget about — until he does something like that. And then you remember why they love him so at Napoli.
46’: Belgium Looking for a Goal
The second half begins, with Belgium looking to find a way to put the pieces together, capitalize on its clear superiority and put the ball in the net.
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Halftime: Panama Hangs Tough With Belgium, 0-0
Another first half at the World Cup without a goal. With a 9-3 lead in shots, Belgium dominated and is much more likely to break the deadlock in the last 45 minutes. This is a great result for Panama, who can’t hope to compete, offensively, with the Belgians.
Andrew Das: Belgium arrives at halftime having done everything it has wanted to do against Panama except score. Which, you’ll remember, is the whole point of this affair. Panama has leaned, dived, nudged and pushed its way though the first 45 minutes, which is what you do when you’re Panama and the other team has Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku et al running at you again and again. But 45 minutes is not 90, and it’s still hot, so doing at this level that for another 45 is going to a big ask.
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45’ + 1: Yellow for Barcenas
A yellow card for Panama’s Edgar Barcenas, who basically roped his opponent to the ground.
43’: Panama Keeps the Ball
A rare sustained possession for Panama ended with Cooper sending it far over the goal. Panama looked like Belgium for just a moment there.
41’: Mertens Shoots Wide
After Hazard is just a half step too slow to get a through ball, De Bruyne took another free kick. Mertens had a fairly clear chance at goal but his one-timer went wide.
40’: Great Look for Hazard
Eden Hazard weaves in close and fires from point-blank range, but Panama’s goalkeeper, Jaime Penedo, is up to the task.
39’: Panama Making a Game of It
Panama has actually gotten a couple of corners in the last few minutes. Barcenas’s latest effort was hit too far and Courtois eventually grabbed it easily.
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37’: Panama Locking Down on Lukaku
A pass from Meunier to an open Lukaku by goal went a bit too far. Lukaku felt like he was pushed (or perhaps grabbed) from behind. Panama is doing everything it can to stifle him.
32’: Belgium in Control
Belgium leads 7-1 in shots and 5-1 on corners. Of course, the 0-0 score matters much more.
Andrew Das: Belgium has slowed to a walk, but maybe they need a breather. It’s steamy in Russia today, 80 degrees in Moscow and almost that in Sochi for this one. You can see it on De Bruyne every time the cameras catch him; he looks like a little boy who’s been playing in the sun on a hot summer afternoon.
29’: Belgium Corner Comes Up Short
De Bruyne again. Short corner this time. Nothing doing. Lukaku has been marked extremely tightly by Panama so far.
28’: Hazard Goes Down. Free Kick
Hazard was fouled by Murillo and Belgium got a free kick just to the side of the penalty area. De Bruyne took it, and it was headed away. Another corner.
24’: Panama Not Getting Many Shots
Panama get a decent opportunity on Belgium’s side, but an errant cross quickly ends the threat. Belgium’s counterattack looks more fearsome, but fizzles quickly as well.
22’: De Bruyne Causing Trouble
Kevin De Bruyne stole the ball and sent it across the face of goal. It took a lunge by Torres to get Panama out of danger. Seconds later, on a corner from Hazard, De Bruyne rocketed a good chance over the bar.
19’: Belgium Hits the Net Again
A corner to Belgium led to a blast by Mertens, but it went into the side netting.
12’: Close Call for Belgium
More patient buildup for Belgium. A bad back pass by Panama’s Torres gave Hazard a shot at a tight angle, but he kicked it into the side net.
8’: Belgium Firing Away
More Belgium passing led to Yannick Carrasco charging in on goal unmarked, but it went straight to the keeper. It’s all Belgium as Dries Mertens fires again at the keeper and then goes down in the box and appealed for a penalty. The ball is not getting out of Panama’s half.
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6’: Belgium Controls Panama Attack
Free kick for Panama near the sideline. Davis curled it in, but it was easily cleared. Belgium regained command, completed a dozen or more passes in the Panama half, but ended up kicking it away before getting a shot off.
Kickoff!
Belgium is in red and Panama in white.
Expect Fireworks from Belgium
Belgium is the heavy favorite in this game, with Panama at odds of 20-1 or greater. We should gets several goals, and at least one from a Hazard-Lukaku linkup for Belgium. We’ll see ...
For Belgium, Raised Expectations
In 2014, Belgium felt that a place in the quarterfinals was acceptable success. Now, considering the lineup and expectations, it might be a bit of a disappointment.
After a worryingly sluggish start, Belgium saw off Panama in this Group G opener courtesy of three second-half goals
Romelu Lukaku got his and Belgium's campaign off to a roaring start after he bagged a double in their 3-0 win against Panama.
The whistle had barely blown for the second half when Dries Mertens found a morsel of space in the Panama box before unleashing a superb volley which nestled into the top corner.
READ: The full match report from the Fisht Stadium
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One of the dark horses to win the World Cup, Belgium will be looking to get their campaign off to a perfect start with a convincing victory over relative minnows Panama.
Boasting a wealth of Premier League stars including Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, there is much expectation on the Red Devils to go far in Russia and make the most of their golden generation.
That starts with a win over Panama who in their first World Cup will be keen to show they are not at the tournament just to make up the numbers having come through a qualifying group that eliminated the United States. Follow all the action from the 4pm action as it happens.
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