Debut disappointment for Panama as Lukaku’s double takes Belgium to victory
No fairytale at the Fischt stadium for the World Cup’s other debutants. Iceland have held Argentina, and set a standard for novices by doing so.
It was too high a bar for the next men making their bow.
Though Panama did keep Belgium at bay for more than a half of their first outing in the sport’s great showpiece, they discovered belatedly that class can be masked only for so long.
The 3-0 result yesterday makes the scoreline look better than Belgium were, perhaps, but they were potent enough for long enough to brush away a tough, and modestly talented Panama.
The losers were cheered at the end, and lingered on the pitch to feel the warmth of their followers.
Well, Panama have been waiting 42 years for this.
They only started putting their name down for World Cups in the mid-1970s and apart from a heart-breakingly close effort that very nearly sent them to Brazil last time around, they have never really been close before that.
They had a lot of luck in the dramatic denouement to the Concacaf qualifying process for Russia 2018, owe their place to one dubious goal and several unlikely outcomes of matches elsewhere in the region of the very last day.
As for the players, a high proportion know that this first World Cup for the country will almost certainly be their last.
One, Ramon Torres, still looked nervy early on, with a shy backpass that put Penedo in trouble and offered a half-chance to Eden Hazard. Penedo would save well from Hazard later, but mostly Belgium were frustrated and a little dysfunctional until after the break.
An excellent goal soon after half time lifted them. Dries Mertens’ volley arching over Penedo.
Panama had their moments in response but Michael Murillo and Edgar Barcenas suffered stage-fright when well-placed.
A mixture of tiredness in the Panama defence and growing confidence in the Belgian frontline allowed Roberto Martinez’s side to win more emphatically thanks to two goals from Romelu Lukaku.
The dark horses, Belgium, are into a gallop, but will want to play like that for closer top 90 minutes next time.
Sadio Mane has been described as one of the world’s best players by his Senegal coach Aliou Cisse on the eve of their first World Cup game since 2002.
Cisse captained that team as it went on a memorable run to the quarter-finals, beating defending champions France on the way.
The 42 year old is preparing his side to take on Poland in Moscow today in their opening Group H match, but he dismissed comparisons between the two vintages of Senegalese talent, saying they have never had a player like Liverpool forward Mane before.
“Sadio Mane is a unique player and he cannot be compared to any other Senegal player, even the major ones we’ve had in the past,” said Cisse, who spent four seasons in the Premier League with Birmingham City and Portsmouth.
“And despite everything that has happened for him over the last two years, he hasn’t changed – he’s just as humble as he was when I first met him at the 2012 Olympics.
“Senegal isn’t only Sadio Mane, though, he has a good team built around him and I think it should be a little plus for him that we’re all behind him.”
When asked if the 26 year old had a chance to become one of the world’s best players during this tournament, Cisse said: “He’s already one of the best. You can’t say he’s not.
“He plays for one of the most iconic clubs, one of the best in Europe, and he’s top-notch for them.
“He’s absolutely unique because he is so unpredictable, that’s what makes him great – he can make the difference with a pass or shot. He’s already one of the best.”
Mane was named Liverpool’s player of the season in 2017 after his first year with the club and enjoyed another hugely successful campaign this season, which he capped by becoming the first African player to score in the Uefa Champions League final.
His team were on the losing side that day as Real Madrid prevailed 3-1, but Cisse is only thinking positive thoughts for him and his team ahead of the match against Poland.
“Everyone knows the first game is important – it’s not vital or decisive, though – but we are ready,” said Cisse.
“We know Poland have great individuals but they have some defensive weaknesses and we are one of Africa’s best teams and have lots of assets and no weak parts to our game.”
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is Poland’s main man but Cisse said Senegal had no “particular plan to stop him, just a collective plan to beat Poland”.
He also said he was confident the continent would one day fulfil Pele’s prediction of an African World Cup winner.
“I’m sure Senegal, Nigeria or another team will be able to win the World Cup just like Brazil and Germany. We have no complexes about this,” he said.
“You can see African players with all the best teams in Europe – we just need more African coaches.”
Senegal are captained by West Ham United’s Cheikhou Kouyate and he revealed that Cisse has been working the team “very, very hard” over the last three weeks but they are now ready to “enjoy the World Cup and give this joy to the Senegalese people”.
The day’s other match in Group H sees Colombia go up against Japan. The Colombians are seeking to build on their run to the quarter-finals four years ago in Brazil. It had been the first time since 1990 that they had successfully made it out of the group stages.