ON the eve of Belgium’s first game at this World Cup, Romelu Lukaku told the world his story.

Of his impoverished childhood when his family was broke, when he didn’t have a television set at home to watch the World Cup, and of the times when people wanted him to fail. In the story written by him, or ghost-written on his behalf, on the Players Tribune website, Lukaku said how he dreamt of taking his family out of the financial rut they found themselves in, when they had nothing to eat, through football.

He wrote how back in 2002 he couldn’t watch the World Cup. Now, in a multicultural Belgium squad that echoes of France’s 1998 World Cup winning side and to millions watching it on television, he is starring at one. Lukaku, who is of Congolese descent, scored two well-taken goals to lead Belgium to a 5-2 romp over Tunisia in an end-to-end game on Saturday which also saw Eden Hazard come into his own with a superb double.

Lukaku joined Cristiano Ronaldo on the top of the goal-scorers list at this World Cup and on this form he might end up winning the Golden Boot. The verve, tenacity and athleticism showed by Belgium could see them win the World Cup.

“We need to take it game by game,” Belgium’s Nacer Chadli told Dawn in the mixed zone when asked if this win sent out a statement to the world that Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ were all set to deliver a long-awaited first major title. “We need to keep doing the best we can and see how it goes.”

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois added: “I think we can win the World Cup with our attacking play. I’m happy that Lukaku scored two more goals. It’s good when our forwards convert.”

The game at the Spartak Stadium here was billed as a test of credentials for Belgium against a Tunisia side who had showed they were an awkward, stubborn team to beat in their opening match against England. Then, they were undone by a last-gasp goal in a 2-1 defeat but here, they were picked apart by a Belgium team that attacked at will. This was the first time that a World Cup had four Arab teams. Three of them — Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco — were already out of reckoning before Tunisia had kicked off and Tunisia too are all but out.

“We would like to apologise to the Tunisian fans who were in great numbers at the stadium,” Tunisian coach Nabil Maaloul said at the post-match news conference. “It’s difficult to win against players who can make the difference at any moment with good passes and balls.”

Belgium defender Thomas Meunier had spoken ahead of the match that his side should go for the throat against Tunisia and that is exactly what they did.

They ran at the Tunisian defence and were ahead as soon as the sixth minute. Hazard got on the end of a quick one-two with Dries Mertens and got clipped by Syam Ben Youssef right on the edge of the box. He got up and tucked the resulting penalty.

They were 2-0 ahead 10 minutes later when Ali Maaloul’s heavy touch saw a charging Mertens nip in and get the ball before setting Lukaku free. The Manchester United striker took a touch, positioned himself before smashing a shot right in the corner of the net.

Credit to Tunisia, though, that they didn’t wilt. They pulled one back almost immediately, Dylan Bronn heading in Wahbi Khazri’s curling free-kick. Now Tunisia, to have any chance, needed to keep the score at this at least till half-time. They didn’t. And Lukaku got his second in injury-time when Meunier carved open their defence with a wonderful throughball for Lukaku to dink it over the goalkeeper.

It got worse for the Tunisians six minutes into the second-half with Hazard showing a delightful piece of skill for Belgium’s fourth. Jan Vertonghen’s long ball found the Chelsea forward and he took out Tunisia goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha with one touch and slotted into an empty net.

It was all Belgium now and substitute Michy Batshuayi, having been earlier denied by a last-ditch goal-line clearance and the bar, added a fifth when he slid in to bury Youri Tielmans pass on the stroke of full-time before Khazri netted a consolation for the Tunisians in injury-time.

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez revealed later that Lukaku picked an ankle injury during the match and would probably be rested for potentially the final Group ‘G’ match against England, one which could potentially decide which team finishes top. Even if he doesn’t play, Lukaku has already made his mark at the World Cup and with him, Belgium can think of going far.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2018