Belgium 3-0 Russia
On a day when the football world was reminded of the fragility of life and what is truly important, here was a wonderful moment.
As everyone associated with football reeled from events in Parken, the message was clear.
“Chris, Chris, I love you” said Romelu Lukaku, running to the camera after netting the 10th minute opener.
Regardless of whether or not his Inter Milan team-mate Christian Eriksen was watching from his hospital bed, this was truly uplifting for a player who is incredibly talented and universally respected.
An emotional moment which will be remembered long after this Euro 2020 encounter has deserted the memory banks.
Highlights of the game
That was the highlight on a night where a clash between familiar foes in St Petersburg produced a familiar result – a Belgium triumph.
Russia, playing on home turf but classed as the ‘away’ team, had been dealt a blow as midfielder Andrei Mostovoy tested positive for Covid-19.
Five of the team that started their World Cup quarter-final defeat to Croatia three years ago did begin though: Mario Fernandes, Roman Zobnin, Daler Kuzyaev, Aleksandra Golovin and the captain Artem Dzyuba.
Back in opposition for their opening Group B fixture after they were also paired together in qualifying, Eden Hazard was named on the bench for Belgium with his brother Thorgan starting at left wing-back.
Four of their starting XI, Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Lukaku, started the World Cup semi-final defeat to France in 2018.
As well as Lukaku, who along with Eriksen has just helped Inter Milan win Serie A, Alderweireld and Vertonghen were former Tottenham team-mates of the Dane.
Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov promised his team would look physically sharper than of late but were expected to take a cautious approach against the world’s number one ranked nation.
If that was the intended approach, it had backfired within 10 minutes as the ball rolled through Andrei Semenov’s legs and Lukaku turned and smashed it into the bottom right corner.
Russia, whose build up was as much connected with political relations with neighbouring Ukraine as the actual football, responded with spirit but their luck was summed up by the fact they had to make three enforced substitutions before half-time.
Hazard saw a shot blocked by Dmitri Barinov and, while Belgium suffered their own blow when FA Cup winner Timothy Castagne had to leave the fray to be replaced by Thomas Meunier, the substitute tapped home clinically when left unmarked seven minutes later.
Russia, who created so many special moments against the odds at the last World Cup, were a beaten side from that moment and there were only rare glimpses of Dzyuba whose 29 international goals has left him just two short of becoming the country’s all-time leading scorer.
Belgium are gearing up in fine fashion and the SBOTOP Euro 2020 betting odds strongly back them to do well.
Their opening night of Euro 2020 highlights was completed in the closing stages when Lukaku got the better of Igor Diveev and coolly slotted home his second.
A good night’s work after a distressing day.
Key Statistics
Lukaku is Belgium’s top scorer at major tournaments with nine goals in 16 matches. Eight of those nine goals have come in the group stages.
He has also been directly involved in 26 goals in his last 19 appearances for Belgium in all competitions, scoring 22 and assisting four.
This was the sixth meeting between Belgium and Russia at a major tournament but the first at the European Championship. Russia won the first two encounters at the 1970 and 1982 World Cup, both as USSR. Since then, Belgium have prevailed in all four matches.
None of Belgium’s last 13 games at the European Championship have ended in a draw (won six, lost seven), a run which started in the 1980 final which they lost 2-1 to West Germany.
They were one of only two teams – alongside Italy – to win 100% of their games in the qualifying campaign.
Russia have not won in seven European Championship games (drawn two, lost five); their last victory was a 4-1 romp against the Czech Republic at Euro 2012.
Yuri Zirkhov (37 years, 296 days) is the oldest player ever to play for Russia at the European Championships.
His 43-minute appearance saw him overtake Sergei Ignashevich, who was (36 years, 342 days) at the 2016 tournament.
What’s next?
Belgium now travel to Denmark and the Parken Stadium on Thursday teatime (June 17). Russia are in action more than 24 hours earlier when they take on newcomers Finland, again in the Krestovsky Stadium.
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