World Cup 2018: Belgium vs Panama, 5 Talking Points

SCORE: Belgium (Mertens 47'; Lukaku 69',75') 3-0 Panama

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Dark-horses, Belgium, would've been buoyed about their chances in Russia in the FIFA World Cup as they saw the big boys, Argentina, Spain, Germany and Brazil all falter in their opening fixture of the competition.

This provided Belgium and their Golden Generation the perfect opportunity to make a statement to the world about their chances this summer.

They did just that, despite having to contend with a resilient Panama side in a goal-less first half. They put the hammer to the metal right from the restart, got the opening goal, and then went on to score two more to make it a comprehensive start to life in Group G.

Here are the Talking Points:

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#5 Belgium stake their claim

One of the most exciting teams in Russia this summer have been waiting and biding their time while the rest of the world was treated to scintillating football and earth-shattering upsets in equal measure.

The Golden Generation of Belgium finally had their chance to make a mark in the biggest sporting competition on the planet. Quarter-finalists in Brazil, the European side has a wealth of talent in their side. They have top quality personnel in each and every position. When Rajda Nainggolan doesn't make it to the final 23-man squad, there is an argument to be made that they also have top-quality back-ups for each position.

#4 Goal of the tournament, so far, from Dries Mertens

What a hit!

In the short life of the 2018 FIFA World Cup so far, we have seen some absolute belters. Almost each and every game has produced a moment of brilliance to affect proceedings. Only last night, we saw Phillipe Coutinho curl in an absolute beauty to give Brazil the lead.

This in addition to some absolute stunners including freekicks from Golovin and Ronaldo, a sumptuous volley by Nacho, and a thunderbolt from Sergio Aguero. The accolade of the goal of the tournament so far, though, has to go to the Napoli man.

In what has to be one of the sweetest volleys he's struck in his life, Mertens lifted the looping ball back over the keeper from an acute angle. The ball stayed hit and it cannoned into the back of the net. It will take some effort to try and better the one the Belgian came up with.

However, from what little we have seen so far in the competition, we wouldn't bet against it.

#3 Panama displayed remarkable defensive solidity in the first half, fell away in the second

Panama kept tabs on Belgium's stars in the first half

Panama managed to keep the most lethal of attacks and the most dominant of midfields, in Russia, at bay for the entirety of the opening forty-five minutes.

Belgium were heavy favourites to not just win the game but also heavily damage Panama's goal-difference. Although that's how it turned out to be in the end, the minnows showed great heart, kept a good shape, and prevented Belgium from grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck. Belgium were starting to get frustrated at their inability to open up the opposition defence.

However, once they went a goal down to the staggering Dries Mertens' volley, they had to overhaul their strategy for the remainder of the game and pushed forward, in numbers, in the hope of finding the leveller.

This afforded Belgium space and the time to pick Panama apart on the counter and before you knew it, the minnows were staring down the barrel of a 3-0 scoreline.

#2 Romelu Lukaku bags a brace

Romelu Lukaku had an impressive outing

The Manchester United man is one of the most talked about strikers in world football at the moment. Unfortunately for him though, he tends to split opinions. While he is undeniably a threat in front of goal and tends to score truckloads of goals, the finer arts of subtlety seem to elude the big brawny Belgian.

He has often been ridiculed for his lack of control with his first touch, something vital in the armoury of the modern-day striker, who is the focal point of a lot of the link-up play. As a result, he also fails to retain the ball - to release the pressure of his teammates - when the long ball is punted toward him.

No matter what opinion you chose to hold of him, you cannot deny that he does get the job done, irrespective of the unaesthetic methods he employs to do so.

On the night, he did the job twice, once through a vintage header from inside the six-yard box, and then through a delicate chip over the keeper after being played in by Eden Hazard. A little something for the critics who doubted whether he possesses the deftness of touch to play for a top-quality side.

#1 No pressure of being favourites on Belgium worked in their favour

Can Belgium go all the way?

The fact that they are widely considered as outsiders in the race for the trophy will not only take the pressure off of the side but will also probably will them on to achieve greatness and to make a statement to the world of football.

While all the talk had been about the Brazilians and the Germans and the French, this Belgian side has retained the majority of their last edition's side, which made the quarter-finals in Brazil. With hardly any player in the side, with the exception of the captain Vincent Kompany, on the wrong side of their careers, it means that the current side has only benefitted from the four-year layoff.

This has given them ample time to get used to each other and gel together as a unit. The experience they've earned, playing for the biggest clubs in Europe, in the past four years seems to have done them a world of good, as the talent largely remains the same, but the maturity to see the game through is something that couldn't be associated with the Belgian side of 2014.

While the favourites like Germany, Brazil, Spain and Argentina all struggling to get off to a winning start to the World Cup, it seems that this could finally be the year of the dark-horse!