Belgium survives off day to collect 3 points
AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Kevin De Bruyne threw his hands up in disgust as another pass went astray. Eden Hazard was easily knocked off the ball. Michy Batshuayi was hauled off by his angry coach after a lazy flick to no one at all.
Belgium didn’t live up to the hype of being the second-ranked team despite starting the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Canada on Wednesday.
Thibaut Courtois saved an early penalty and Batshuayi scored the only goal at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium to spoil the North American team’s return to the tournament after 36 years.
Aside from the result, there was little for the Belgians to celebrate, with De Bruyne — one of the world’s best players — mocking the decision to name him player of the match.
“No, I don’t think I played a great game,” a miserable-looking De Bruyne said after being told of his award.
Belgium’s aging team was outplayed at times by Canada, which has yet to collect a point or even score a goal in four World Cup matches — including the three games from its
debut in 1986.
This should have been the game in which the Canadians broke that run. Alphonso Davies, the star of Canada’s team, squandered the best chance when his penalty was blocked by Courtois, one of 21 shots taken compared to Belgium’s nine.
The Canadians had 14 shots in the first half alone, the most by a team at the World Cup without scoring in 16 years.
“They showed tonight they do belong here,” Canada coach John Herdman said of his players.
One moment of class in the 44th minute wound up deciding the game. It wasn’t from one of De Bruyne’s brilliant through-balls or Hazard’s mazy dribbles, but instead a simple long ball over the top of Canada’s defense by center back Toby Alderweireld.
It split the defense and Batshuayi ran through, letting the ball bounce twice before guiding a left-footed finish into the far corner.
“Delighted that, without being ourselves, we won the game,” Belgium
coach Roberto Martinez said.
SPAIN 7, COSTA RICA 0
Not since Pelé in 1958 had someone as young as Gavi scored a goal at the World Cup.
The 18-year-old midfielder led the way as Spain pulled off the biggest World Cup win in its history with a rout of Costa Rica at Doha.
Pelé scored two goals in the 1958 final, when Brazil won its first World Cup by beating Sweden 5-2.
“I’m proud to be in that podium,” Gavi said. “Not even in my dreams I had imagined this.”
Gavi only managed to score one goal Wednesday, but his teammates added plenty of others.
Not long after Japan surprised Germany 2-1 in the other Group E match, Spain’s young squad avoided any chance of an upset with Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio and Ferran Torres scoring a goal each in the first half. Torres, Gavi, Carlos Soler and Álvaro Morata added to the lead in the second half.
MOROCCO 0, CROATIA 0
Morocco held 2018 finalist Croatia to a draw at Al Khor in another strong performance by a team from an Arab country.
Morocco’s promising performance came 24 hours after Saudi Arabia sparked the first World Cup in the Middle East to life by beating Lionel Messi’s Argentina in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. Tunisia followed with a scoreless draw against European Championship semifinalist Denmark.
Morocco managed to stifle Croatia captain Luka Modric, who won the best player award at the last World Cup when he led his country to the final before losing to France.