World Cup 2018: Belgium vs Panama predicted line-ups and preview – Red Devils will want victorious statement
Eden Hazard & Co. will want to make a marker after going out to Wales at Euro 2016
AFTER losing to Wales in their last tournament outing, Belgium will want to make a statement in Sochi.
Roberto Martinez’s men have smashed 64 goals in a 19-match unbeaten run - and will hope for another hatful against Panama.
The Central American side are ranked 52 places below the Red Devils but will be buzzing to be here, having dramatically qualified for their first World Cup ahead of the USA.
THE NATION EXPECTS: Anything other than a resounding win for Belgium and fans will fear another tournament failure with their golden generation.
Panama supporters are not expecting much out of this one - but will look for their team to at least frustrate Eden Hazard and Co.
KEY BATTLES/STAR MEN: Hazard is Belgium’s captain and leads from the front.
He looked in the form of his life in recent friendlies and will take some stopping.
That task will go to his rival skipper, Roman Torres, who is a hero in his homeland having scored the goal which sent Panama to Russia.
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WEAK LINKS: With Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen injured, Celtic centre-half Dedryck Boyata will be in the middle of Belgium’s three-man defence and could be targeted.
Forward-thinking left wing-back Yannick Carrasco also leaves holes at the back.
However, Panama scored just nine goals in ten qualifying games and offer little going forward.
LIKELY LINE-UPS AND TEAM TALKS: Kompany (groin) will not be fit until the England game at the earliest, with Vermaelen (hamstring) also out, so Boyata takes his place in what is otherwise Martinez’s first-choice side.
Belgium likely (3-4-3): Courtois; Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco; Mertens, Lukaku, Hazard.
Captain Torres is fit enough to start following a hamstring injury. Winger Alberto Quintero was ruled out of the tournament on Wednesday with a foot fracture.
Panama likely (4-1-4-1): Penedo; Davis, Escobar, R.Torres, Murillo; Gomez; Barcenas, Godoy, Cooper, Rodriguez; Perez.
BEST BET: Bank on Belgium to score three or more goals with Lukaku to score at any time.
PREM TSAR IN THE MAKING: Dries Mertens is a key player for Belgium and one of the most popular with their fans.
If his ex-Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri takes over at Chelsea, you could see him taking the forward with him to Stamford Bridge.
THE STAT THAT MATTERS: Belgium are unbeaten in their last nine World Cup group games - winning each of their last four.
This may be Panama’s first World Cup but it is their managers third - he bossed Colombia in 1998 and Ecuador in 2002.