The Great Escape
Germany saved by 95th-minute Kroos stunner
IT WAS the most sobering reality check for England. Chilling, you might say. Belgium so obliterated the team which Gareth Southgate’s players had only squeezed past that their manager issued an apology to the Tunisian nation last night, for a scoreline he said was ‘ridiculous’.
But amid such realities, some reasons to be cheerful about the encounter with the World Cup’s joint- top scorers on Thursday night. Manager Roberto Martinez spelt out in the aftermath that having now qualified from Group G he will rest players for the match in Kaliningrad.
‘If we could have seven days to prepare for that game and then another seven days before the following game then we would start with the same starting XI,’ he said. ‘The reality is that we have qualified — you are only as good as the 23 players.’
He wouldn’t contemplate any s uch di s cussion t hough t he permutations have reduced the appeal of finishing top, in any case. Brazil could emerge from the round of 16 to face either the winners of England’s group or the runners-up from Group H. Maybe it would be wise to aim to be runners-up. ‘I don’t think we can do that,’ Martinez said.
Some of his changes may be enforced, since Romelu Lukaku — whose two goals make him the tournament’s joint top scorer on four with Cristiano Ronaldo — suffered ligament damage which makes him a doubt for England. ‘He had external ligament on his left foot late in the first half. He did well to last as long as he lasted (59 minutes). We will assess him more in 48 hours,’ Martinez said.
On top of that, Eden Hazard, who left the field shortly after Lukaku, suffered a calf problem. ‘It was in the first half. Something in my calf but not something big. I think tomorrow it is going to be OK,’ man- of thematch Hazard said later. The influential Dries Mertens also sustained a knock on his ankle.
If we’re looking for more fundamental grounds for reassurance, then the Belgian defence which conceded twice provides some. Martinez’s lack of defensive rigour is essentially what did for him at Everton two years ago and his attacking wing-backs do leave space in behind.
The Tunisians’ suicidally high line and relentless capacity to hand possession over to their opponents made this surely the worst we have seen at the tourname n t . ‘This was a g a me that suited our style,’ Martinez admitted.
Yet nothing can entirely erase the manner in which the north Africans were eviscerated by a Belgian side high on confidence, technical class and mutual intuition. The game was only five min- utes old when full- back Syam Ben Youssef lumbered clumsily into Hazard on the right hand side of the Tunisia box — drawing the penalty the Chelsea player calmly put away.
The second sent a message that the slightest error may well cost. Ali Maaloul failed to control on t he Belgian r i ght, al l owing Mertens to seize possession, drive forward and navigate the ball to Lukaku, whose angles were immaculate as he drove home through defender Ben Youssef’s legs.
I mpro b a b l y, Tu n i s i a then scored, revealing in the process why Belgium are so keen to have Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, rather than Dedryck Boyata, playing against England. Boyata was some way off getting a head on a Wahbi Khazri freekick on 18 minutes and Dylan Bronn leapt to head home.
Another fumble in possession put Belgium back in control. De Bruyne pounced, playing short to Thomas Meunier, who span in the area, played i n Lukaku and watched the forward deftly clip the ball over the advancing Ben Mustapha. Hazard required two preparatory touches — chest control, right foot flick over the advancing goalkeeper — before striking the fourth, left-footed, into the net.
As Tunisia wilted, substitute Michy Batshuayi could have single-handedly added a hat-trick within 10 minutes of arriving for Hazard. He crashed against the bar, finally converting when Yannick Carrasco’s cross sailed over the hapless defence.
In his search for succour, Southgate would be wise to focus on clips of Tunisia’s late second goal. Left wing- back Meunier was absent and Jan Vertonghen unable to make ground to cover when Hamdi Nagguez’s cross provided Wahbi Khazri — Tunisia’s bright light — with an easy finish.
Maaloul had t houghts about why the Middle East nations, also including Egypt and Morocco, have s t r uggled. ‘ We need to change our lifestyle because it is not in line with a high level of football,’ he said. ‘We need to change the way we train. We need two more generat i ons t o reach t he required level.’
The same can’t be said of Belgium. They’ll take some stopping in Kaliningrad.