Day 5 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup featured two Group G matches of hardly any resemblance. Belgium took apart Panama, while England needed a last gasp effort to defeat Tunisia. However, both matches ended with two outright victors.
Belgium
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Group E play kicked off with two teams with very different paths in this World Cup. Belgium, one of the deepest and most talented teams in the tournament, are expected to make a deep run. In contrast, Panama, the Central-American team representing CONCACAF, was making its first World Cup appearance.
It showed.
First half
Belgium came out on the attack right away as the first half started. They mounted pressure on Panama but tethering defense was barely able to hold back the Europeans. The Belgian speed coming from the sidelines was definitely troubling for Panama as it took them around 15 minutes to get settled on the field.
The game had a more even look however, counter attacks still got Panama in trouble as their lines were playing very up the field. Jaime Penedo came up big with saves as Belgium could have easily gone to halftime with the score 2-0.
Second Half
It was the second half where Belgium began to put this game away.
Dries Mertens opened up the scoring for Belgium sending a rocket out of the reach of Penedo.
Kevin De Bruyne came close minutes later, sending a free kick just to the left of goal.
Belgium would strike again in the 69th minute, courtesy of Romelu Lukaku header off of a lifted ball from De Bruyne in the box.
Just minutes later, Lukaku put the game away on a through ball from Eden Hazard on a counter.
Tunisia
The second match of Group E was a much closer affair, probably leaving English fans high uncomfortable for the majority of the match. In a favorable match, this was an opportunity for England to get off on the right foot in the World Cup.
First Half
It was essentially a dream start for the English side.
After three scoring opportunities in the first 10 minutes by Jesse Lingard, Harry Maguire and Harry Kane, there was a sense this would be a game dominated by the Three Lions.
The score opened up in the 11th minute. A cross by Ashley Young was met by the head of John Stones, which was saved by Tunisia keeper Mouez Hassen. To Hassen’s misfortune, the ball fell to the feet of Kane, who then put it in the back of the net.
Hassen was then subbed out after suffering an injury minutes before the goal. In came back-up keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha in the 13th minute.
Things took an unlikely turn well into the first half when Kyle Walker took down Fakhreddine Ben Youssef in the penalty box, awarding Tunisia a penalty. It was Ferjani Sassi who converted the PK to tie things up in the 35th minute.
Second Half
The second half left many doubt as to England’s capabilities.
Several opportunities with no fruits to bear. A cross from Kieran Trippier in the 51st minute was met by a header from Dele Alli, which was then saved. Another opportunity arose from a John Stones head off of a Trippier cross, which was headed just to the left of the post.
In the 72nd minute, Tunisia got what turned out to be its last legitimate shot at potentially putting together an upset. A through ball by Dylann Bronn found Wahbi Khazri, who then got his shot blocked by Jordan Pickford. Soon after, a shot by Naim Sliti missed to the left.
After the 90th minute, it seemed like a draw was inevitable. However, that is where Kane stepped in.
A Trippier corner kick in the 91st minute was deflected by Jordan Henderson. As a result, this was followed by a header by Kane for the game-winner.
Consequently, Belgium have the top spot in Group G due to the goal differential. Followed by England, Tunisia and Panama.
They will play their second matches Saturday and Sunday, with Belgium taking on Tunisia and England against Panama.