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Five-goal Belgium send out a World Cup warning

Red Devils 4-11 to top group after thrashing Tunisia 5-2

Romelu Lukaku scored twice for Belgium against Tunisia
Romelu Lukaku scored twice for Belgium against TunisiaCredit: Kevin C. Cox

Belgium issued a World Cup warning to their rivals in Russia with a thumping 5-2 success over Tunisia.

Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard both scored twice for the rampant Red Devils, who have taken control of Group G and been slashed to 15-2 to win the World Cup.

Substitute Michy Batshuayi rounded off an excellent afternoon for Roberto Martinez's men and they could easily have won by a wider margin.

Barring a mathematical miracle Belgium will be through to the last 16 and England will join them in the knockout phase if they beat Panama on Sunday, although the table-toppers' goal difference of plus six means it is likely Gareth Southgate's side will have to win their remaining two matches to finish at the summit.

Belgium are 4-11 to finish top with England 11-4, but given the way the draw is beginning to take shape it is possible that finishing second could be beneficial in plotting a path to the latter stages.

Roberto Martinez has said he will make "major changes" to the side that will play England on Thursday with the Belgium boss revealing Lukaku, Hazard and Dries Mertens are among those carrying knocks, prompting bet365 to cut the Three Lions from 2-1 to 7-4.


Match report

Belgium v Tunisia

South Korea v Mexico


A rest for Lukaku would frustrate his Golden Boot backers after the Manchester United striker moved level on four goals with Cristiano Ronaldo following his Tunisia double.

Lukaku is 11-4 to finish the tournament as the top goalscorer and two-goal Hazard is quoted at 25-1.

Tunisia, whose goals came via Dylan Bronn and Wahbi Khazri, were outclassed but they will see their final fixture against Panama as a chance to get points on the board. They are 12-5 to finish bottom with Panama 4-9 pokes.

Panama are not expected to trouble England and Southgate has attempted to calm growing angst between supporters and journalists by playing down the argument over possible leak of his starting 11, claiming an image captured from training was not the guaranteed side.

Possible starter Marcus Rashford is 7-1 to be voted as the official man of the match in a market headed by Harry Kane at 7-4.

Mexico followed up their impressive victory over Germany with a 2-1 success against South Korea in another performance which marks them down as lively 33-1 outsiders to win the World Cup.

Javier Hernandez doubled Mexico's advantage after Carlos Vela's penalty had given Juan Carlos Osorio's outfit the lead. Heung-Min Son smashed in a late consolation for South Korea.


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Mark LangdonRacing Post Sport

Published on 23 June 2018inWorld Cup tips

Last updated 19:05, 23 June 2018

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