Michy Batshuayi also found the net for Belgium, who have scored eight in their first two games
BELGIUM 5-2 TUNISIA: MATCH IN PICTURES
Belgium sent a World Cup warning to England by putting five past Tunisia in Group G.
Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard both scored twice for Roberto Martinez's men before substitute Michy Batshuayi wrapped it up late on.
Hazard opened the scoring from the spot early on for Belgium after he had been taken out on the edge of the box.
Lukaku then made it two, finishing well after good work from Dries Mertens.
But Tunisia hit back within an instant as they capitalised on some shaky defending from Belgium.
Wahbi Khazri's ball into the box was poorly defended and Dylan Bronn glanced a header past Thibaut Courtois.
Belgium had chances to extend their lead and they did just that on the stroke of half-time through Lukaku.
This time it was Thomas Meunier who found the Manchester United striker and he chipped a clever finish into the net.
Hazard, who was the standout performer for the Red Devils, made it four after the break with a delightful goal.
He collected Toby Alderweireld's stunning long-range pass with a fine first touch before rounding the Tunisian stopper and slotting into the net.
The Chelsea star and Lukaku were both rested by Martinez for the closing stages with Michy Batshuayi given a run out.
He could have had a hatful after wasting a host of chances but finally got his goal after sliding in to finish.
There was still time for Tunisia to get one back through skipper Khazri but unless Panama beat England on Sunday, they're out.
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen, Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco, Mertens (Tielemans 86), Hazard (Batshuayi 68), Lukaku (Fellaini 59)
Tunisia: Ben Mustapha, Bronn (Nagguez 24), S. Ben Youssef (Benalouane 41), Meriah, Maaloul, Skhiri, Sassi (Sliti 59), Khaoui, Badri, F.Ben Youssef, Khazri
KEY EVENTS
What an incredible game - the highest-scoring so far - in which Belgium showed their quality and attacking prowess, and could easily have scored more! Hazard and Lukaku grabbed two apiece, before substitute Batshuayi eventually made it five, although he could have had four to himself! Tunisia hit two of their won through Bronn and Khazri, leaving question marks over Belgium's defending, but were simply overrun by the superior quality of their opponents. It finishes 5-2 to Belgium in one of the most entertaining games of the tournament!
90+4 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
FULL-TIME: BELGIUM 5-2 TUNISIA
90+2 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
MISS! Batshuayi charges at goal, and has Tielemans in support, but he ignores the run of his team-mate and tries to lash a shot in on his left foot after working a yard, but he drags it wide! Tielemans is not happy, having assisted the striker just minutes earlier.
90+3 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
GOAL! TUNISIA MAKE IT 5-2! Out of nowhere again, Nagguez bombs forward from right-back and cuts the ball back towards Khazri, who guides the ball into the far corner on the swivel. Lax defending from Belgium though, as Carrasco has switched off and the back three were all static. They felt the game was over and done with.
90+3 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Nagguez, who came on for the goalscorer Bronn, grabs an assist for the man who created the first, cutting the ball back well from the byline.
90 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
GOAL! IT'S 5-1 NOW! Batshuayi finally gets his goal! Tielemans puts in an absolute peach of a ball from the right that the striker throws himself at, turning the ball into the corner with his left foot!
90 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Tielemans' pass was inch-perfect, and Batshuayi, who had timed his run well, finally matched his movement up with a finish!
89 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Tielemans takes a corner deep to the edge of the box, but it's hooked away by a defender and the danger was minimal.
88 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Belgium are playing the ball around comfortably now, under minimal pressure from Tunisia. Can either side grab one last goal here?
86 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Impressive youngster Tielemans, who plies his trade at Monaco, replaces Mertens in Belgium's final change. He will play just in front of Witsel and Fellaini, leaving De Bruyne in support of Batshuayi.
85 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Meunier tries to loft the ball forward for Batshuayi , but it's a little too heavy and it runs out for a goal-kick.
83 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
The Dortmund striker, on loan from Chelsea, is cutting a very frustrated figure out here. He could easily have had a hat-trick, but he's still yet to find the back of the net.
81 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Batshuayi simply cannot score! De Bruyne does excellently down the left, beating his man and crossing superbly for Batshuayi, whose powerful, left-footed volley from inside the box is kept out by Ben Mustapha!
80 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CROSSBAR! How has Batshuayi not scored?! Carrasco cuts inside from the left and lashes a powerful shot at goal that Ben Mustapha fumbles, but Batshuayi, latching onto the loose ball, somehow rattles it off the crossbar and out from six yards!!
77 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Khaoui is down with cramp as Tunisian legs begin to tire. They've worked hard today, but to no avail.
76 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
OFF THE LINE! Batshuayi finally gets onto a Mertens through-ball ahead of Ben Mustapha, rounding him and bobbling a strike at an open goal, but Meriah shows incredible desire to get back and clear it off the line! Batshuayi had to score there though.
75 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Ben Mustapha charges out of his box to deal with a pass in behind for Batshuayi, and has to be careful not to use his hands as he slides to intercept, using his chest instead!
74 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Mertens is flagged for offside after the ball is won high up the field. He was in a good position there.
72 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Vertonghen is holding his head after a clash when competing for a bll into the box, and is taken to the sidelines for a quick check. He looks as though he will be okay to continue though.
71 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Mertens plays the ball over the top for Batshuayi to chase in behind, but the flag goes up for offside. That was a tight call.
70 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Khaoui sees Khazri's free-kick headed out to him, but flashes a wild effort high over the bar on the volley.
69 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Carrasco comes in off the left and tries to slip it through for Mertens, but the keeper is out quickly to collect.
68 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Hazard, like Lukaku, perhaps would have wanted his hat-trick, but is sensibly replaced by Martinez, with Batshuayi coming on in his stead.
67 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Badri shows quick feet to work a yard of space and tries to thump a strike in, but Courtois show good reflexes to get across and hold the shot.
65 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Khazri takes a short corner and receives it back immediately, before trying an ambitious effort from the edge of the box that is blocked away. Sliti then tries one from 18 yards, but Alderweireld is across to block it.
63 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Hazard, looking for his hat-trick no doubt, balloons an effort high over the bar from outside the box. Not his best effort this game.
60 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CHANCE! Khazri leaves the ball with a clever dummy for Badri, but his shot is blocked from inside the box! Tunisia aren't done yet!
Hazard makes it four
61 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
MISS! Carrasco works some space beautifully, cutting inside onto his favoured right foot and unleashing a wicked, curling effort towards the top corner, but it's just over the top!
59 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Sassi, who scored the penalty against England, is replaced by winger Sliti in Tunisia's final change.
59 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Lukaku may be a little disappointed to be coming off without a hat-trick, but Martinez clearly wants to take no risks with his star striker, who had to be treated for what looked like an ankle injury in the first half. Fellaini replaces him, slotting into midfield alongside Witsel and allowing De Bruyne further forward to support Hazard and Mertens.
57 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Carrasco is played through neatly on the left, but he tries to cut back instead of shooting and his pass is blocked!
55 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
MISS! Sassi spots Courtois off his line and tries a cheeky lob on the half-volley, but it sails wide! That was a decent effort by the midfielder though.
54 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Fakhreddine Ben Youssef tangles with Vertonghen on the touchline, and has his elbow in the air. He seems to be losing his cool a bit, and is perhaps lucky to escape a booking.
Sensational from Hazard
What a goal from Eden Hazard.
De Bruyne’s pass is excellent and picks out the Chelsea star.
He controls the ball with a fine first touch and beats the keeper with his second, before slotting into an empty net.
Belgium are looking good!
51 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
GOAL!!!!! IT'S NOW 4-1! Hazard grabs his second in style, chesting down from a long ball as his run split the two centre-halves, before poking round the onrushing goalkeeper and firing into an empty net!! Great compsure there from Hazard.
51 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Alderweireld's raking pass from the back found Hazard's splitting pass perfectly, and the forward kept his balance to fire coolly home!
50 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Tunisia have started strongly in this half as Badri works some space off the left and drills a low effort at goal that Courtois holds well.
49 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CHANCE! Khazri stretches to reach a cross from the left, but it's a little high and he can't direct it towards the target! The flag is up for offside, anyway.
47 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
MISS! Belgium work a short corner well and De Bruyne fizzes a ball in towards the near post, but Alderweireld spoons his effort over the bar!
46 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Tunisia get the ball rolling for this second half!
Tunisia lost two men to injury in that first half, and with just one substitute left, they may find that tiring legs struggle in the latter stages of the second half. Belgium, however, simply need to maintain their level of quality and could find themselves racking up a few more here, and may look to send out a statement of intent going forward.
What a half! Belgium were 2-0 up after just 16 minutes following a Hazard penalty and an emphatic Lukaku strike, but Tunisia got themselves back into the game out of nowhere just two minutes later, with Bronn glancing Khazri's superb free-kick into the net with his side's first shot of the game! Chances were plentiful as both sides showed positivity in an open encounter, and Lukaku struck again on the stroke of half-time, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper from close range to restore his side's two-goal advantage.
Will England top the group?
Belgium have been in stunning form here.
And all eyes will be on their showdown with England in the final group game.
The Three Lions must of course beat Panama tomorrow but Betfair price them at 5/2 to top the group.
Check out their latest odds here.
45+4 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
HALF-TIME: BELGIUM 3-1 TUNISIA
45+3 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Meunier, a right-back, drifted into the middle and produced a pass worthy of any attacking midfield player for Lukaku, who had made a brilliant run in behind the back-line and dinked the ball into the net superbly!
45+3 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
GOAL!!! LUKAKU MAKES IT 3-1! Right on the stroke of half-time, Lukaku gets his second! De Bruyne drifted out to the right and linked up well with Meunier, who drifted into the middle and slipped an inch-perfect through-ball for Lukaku to run onto and clip over the onrushing goalkeeper! Great finish!
45+3 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CHANCE! Massive chance for Lukaku! Meunier makes an excellent interception on the edge of his box and finds Hazard with superb composure. The Chelsea star drives forward at great pace and finds De Bruyne, who fizzes a ball into the box that is just inches away from Lukaku!
45+1 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
For the first time in the game, both sides seem to be taking a breather and slowing the pace down.
44 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Tunisia have grown into the game, while Belgium's intensity has dropped a little. However, the favourites have the capacity to strike in an instant with their quality, so the African side must remain wary.
42 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Tunisia win a corner down the left, forcing Boyata to make an excellent sliding block! The corner flies straight into the arms of Courtois, however.
41 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Syam Ben Youssef is the second Tunisian defender to be stretchered off before half-time, and is replaced by Leicester City's Benalouane.
Is VAR working?
40 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
MISS! Fakhreddine Ben Youssef tries to strike a volley at goal, but he just cuts across it too much and sends it miles wide of the target!
Bronn gets one back
39 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CHANCE! Belgium win the ball well on the right and play it to Lukaku on the edge of the box. He thinks about shooting on his left, but instead slips De Bruyne in and is inches away from the return pass inside the box, but Ben Mustapha gathers!
37 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Khazri trudges back on, and play resumes, although both sides seem to be slowing things down just for the moment.
36 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Worryingly for Tunisia, Khazri is down holding his ankle, and the game is stopped so he can receive some treatment.
35 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Lukaku, who was briefly off the pitch to receive some treatment, has returned to the pitch as Khazri just fails to unlock the Belgium defence on the break after some clever build-up play.
34 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Mertens gets the better of his man down the right and curls in a delightful cross that Ben Mustapha does well to get a hand to, but he fumbles it initially before pouncing on the loose ball.
33 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Khazri pulls a nervy save out of Courtois with a swerving, curling strike from outside the box that the Chelsea shot-stopper gathers at the second attempt!
29 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
What an opening half an hour this has been! Breathless stuff from both sides here.
31 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
MISS! Tunsia break dangerously down the right as they catch Carrasco napping, and the cross into the box is only headed as far as Sassi, who shifts it onto his right foot and just drags an effort narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner!
27 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CHANCE! The openings are flowing thick and fast here as Tunisia play a suicidal ball out from the back that falls straight to Witsel, who perhaps picks the wrong option and smacks a deflected shot over the bar rather that picking out Lukaku!
26 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CHANCE! Lukaku is fed through as Belgium break, but his first touch is heavy and Ben Mustapha shepherds him out of play. Lukaku has to hurdle the keeper at the byline and wants a penalty, but there's nothing doing there.
25 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Khazri gets to the byline and tries a rabona cross that Courtois catches! Lovely skill from the forward!
22 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Bronn, the goalscorer, is down for Tunisia and it doesn't look good. His arm went up immediately to signal to the bench, and he looks certain to come off.
24 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Bronn is indeed replaced at right-back by Nagguez, who will be fortunate to have as much of an impact on the game for his side as the man he replaces!
Lukaku makes it two
19 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Carrasco works a yard and hammers a shot at goal, but Ben Mustapha palms it away. It falls kindly for Hazard on the follow-up, but he gets caught between shooting and squaring for Lukaku, and ends up not quite doing either!
19 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Tunisia scored with their only shot on target against England, and have done it again here! In fact that was their first shot so far in this game!
17 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Lukaku is now level with Jan Ceulemans as Belgium's record goalscorer at major tournaments with six goals! That's his third of the tournament already!
18 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Khazri's set-piece delivery was enticing and dangerous, and all Bronn needed was a little flick to take it past the keeper and into the goal! This game is far from over!
What a start to this one.
Dries Mertens slid Romelu Lukaku through and the striker is devastating in that position.
He makes no mistake to double his side’s lead.
But Tunisia hit back instantly as a free-kick into the box is finished by Bronn.
Would that goal have happened if Vincent Kompany was playing?
18 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
GOAL!!!!! TUNISIA PULL ONE BACK! It's now 2-1 as Bronn glances Khazri's free-kick across the keeper and into the far corner! That's come out of nowhere!
16 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Mertens capitalised on a poor touch from Maaloul and fed Lukaku well, timing his pass perfectly.
16 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
GOAL!!!! LUKAKU MAKES IT 2-0 TO BELGIUM! Mertens slips him through as the big striker peels off his marker, before arrowing a low strike right into the bottom-right corner through the legs of Syam Ben Youssef! Great goal!
15 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Carrasco wriggles inside from the left and strikes at goal, but it's tame and the goalkeeper is relatively untroubled.
14 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Sassi is booked for dissent after a soft Khazri appeal for a penalty is turned down. There was a little coming together between the forward and Vertonghen, but his reaction was certainly exaggerated.
Hazard opens the scoring
13 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
SAVE! Hazard is inches away from a second goal, but he can't make the most of an enticing opportunity and Ben Mustapha clings on gratefully!
12 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
BLOCK! Hazard's incisive run down the left earns his side a throw, which is taken to Witsel, and the midfielder turns and thumps an effort at goal that cannons back off a red shirt!
10 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Courtois has to be alert to come off his line and collect a dinked ball over the top for Badri. Belgium look bright and sharp so far.
8 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Tunisia try to muster an attack, pushing forward down the right, but the ball is too heavy down the line and runs out harmlessly for a goal-kick.
6 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
GOAL!!! HAZARD SCORES! It's 1-0 to Belgium very early on here as Hazard gives the keeper the eyes and slots emphatically into the bottom-left corner. What a start!
5 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
PENALTY! Belgium produce some lovely, flowing football and Hazard throws a clever dummy in, allowing the ball to run through his legs for Mertens, who feeds him the return ball and Syam Ben Youssef clumsily bundles the Chelsea forward over just inside the box! Hazard will take.
Penalty Belgium!
Was it inside the box or not?
Tunisia are protesting furiously and it will go to VAR.
Hazard was felled and the contact did seem to take place in the box.
4 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Meunier drifts inside from his right wing-back position and drives a low effort at goal with his weaker left foot, and it's an easy stop for Ben Mustapha.
3 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
CHANCE! Tunisia surge forward and want a free-kick, but the referee waves the appeal away and the ball is pumped in behind for Lukaku to chase, but the goalkeeper just gets there first!
1 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
Belgium win a very early free-kick which De Bruyne lofts forward, but it's not his best delivery and Ben Mustapha collects with ease.
1 minsMINUTE BY MINUTE
And we're off! Belgium get the ball rolling for the start of the first half.
Tunisia realistically need to win here if they are to have any hope of progressing from the group, but they face a tough task, with Belgium unbeaten in 10 World Cup group stage games, having won the last five in a row (W5 D5).
Belgium have not lost to any of the three African sides they have faced at the World Cup, and Tunisia do not have a strong record in the tournament, failing to win any of their last 12 World Cup games (D4 L8) after winning their first-ever match against Mexico.
A win for Belgium today all but confirms qualification - assuming Panama do not beat England tomorrow - and Martinez's side will be motivated to build on their strong start here.
Belgium and Tunisia have met three times previously, winning one apiece and drawing the other - which came in their only other World Cup encounter in 2002. Belgium's victory came in their most recent encounter four years ago, with Mertens grabbing a late winner.
Roberto Martinez makes no changes to the side that beat Panama so comfortably in their openeing fixture, with Boyata continuing in the centre of defence while captain Kompany recovers from a groin injury.
Tunisia head coach Nabil Maaloul makes two changes from the side that lost 2-1 to England in their opening fixture, with Ben Mustapha continuing in goal for the injured Mouez Hassen - whose tournament is sadly over following his shoulder injury. Khaoui also replaces Sliti, slotting into midfield and pushing Badri further forward.
Tunisia substitutes: Yohan Benalouane, Mohamed Ben Amor, Naim Sliti, Hamdi Nagguez, Ahmed Khalil, Bassem Srarfi, Ghilane Chaalali, Oussama Haddadi, Rami Bedoui, Saber Khalifa, Aymen Mathlouthi
Tunisia XI (4-3-3): Farouk Ben Mustapha; Ali Maaloul, Yassine Meriah, Syam Ben Youssef, Dylan Bronn; Saif-Eddine Khaoui, Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi; Anice Badri, Wahbi Khazri, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef
Belgium substitutes: Mousa Dembele, Leander Dendoncker, Thorgan Hazard, Michy Batshuayi, Nacer Chadli, Marouane Fellaini, Thomas Vermaelen, Simon Mignolet, Vincent Kompany, Youri Tielemans, Adnan Januzaj, Koen Casteels
Belgium XI (3-4-3): Thibaut Courtois; Jan Vertonghen, Dedryck Boyata, Toby Alderweireld; Yannick Carrasco, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Meunier; Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens
The line-ups have been announced, and we'll start with Belgium.
Lukaku to continue scoring spree?
Romelu Lukaku was on fire in Belgium’s World Cup opener.
He scored twice against Panama and will fancy adding to his tally today.
Betfair have priced the United striker to score first and Belgium to win 2-0 at 20/1
Full team news
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen, Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco, Mertens, Hazard, Lukaku
Tunisia: Ben Mustapha, Bronn, S. Ben Youssef, Meriah, Maaloul, Skhiri, Sassi, Khaoui, Badri, F.Ben Youssef, Khazri
KEY EVENT
Belgium team
No drama for Martinez in Belgium camp
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has apologised to journalists for making their lives harder by putting an end to the dramas and in-fighting that have characterised Belgian squads in the past.
Martinez’s side kicked off their World Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Panama and are determined to continue to let their football do the talking.
Speaking to reporters before Saturday’s Group G match against Tunisia at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium, the former Wigan and Everton manager said: “We don’t want to be boring but we’re a football team - we’re not here to fill pages.
“We’re here to work and to fit all the exceptional talent we have on the field. OK, we have lots of players who are big stars at their clubs but we’re not here to find blame or look for ways out.
“I’m sure it’s been really boring for you but I’m pleased with the way it’s going.”
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Group G match between Belgium and Tunisia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Source: mirror sports
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