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MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2018 18 Belgium determined AFP | Sochi Belgium Belgium World Cup squad oberto Martinez can’t wait to lead an With Vincent Kompany out and Coach: Roberto Martinez ESP Goalkeepers outstanding Belgium side into Thomas Vermaelen a doubt for Casteels, Courtois, Mignolet Rthe World Cup as they Belgium, Dedryck Boyata should prepare to take on Pana- start at the heart of the back ma in their opening three. Axel Witsel looks set game today. to get the nod ahead of A team who sit Mousa Dembele in the third in the FIFA middle of the park Strikers rankings and who alongside Kevin De Batshuayi, boast what is frequent- Bruyne. In attack, Chadli, Lukaku ly labelled a golden generation Roberto Martinez featuring the likes of Eden Hazard and should start a front three Defence Midfield Kevin De Bruyne have come to Russia with of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku Alderweireld, Boyata, Carrasco, de Bruyne, Dembele, and Dries Mertens, while Michy Kompany, Meunier, Dendoncker, Fellaini, E. Hazard, T. Hazard, a considerable weight of expectation on their Vermaelen, Vertonghen Januzaj, Mertens, Tielemans, Witsel Batshuayi is a fitness concern. shoulders. Source: FIFA © GRAPHIC NEWS They are strongly fancied to progress to the Strengths knockout phase as winners of Group G, despite Panama World Cup squad being drawn alongside England, and so it would The front three, Eden Hazard, be a major upset if they slipped up in Sochi Romelu Lukaku and Dries Coach: Hernan Dario Gomez COL Goalkeepers against a side making their World Cup debut. Mertens, are of the highest Calderon, Penedo, Rodriguez Belgium’s results under Martinez have been quality and they are backed up excellent, with last Monday’s 4-1 friendly win by Kevin De Bruyne in midfield. over Costa Rica in Brussels meaning they are unbeaten in 19 matches going back Weaknesses almost two years, to the very start of the There may be some tension Spaniard’s reign. in the squad if they do not Strikers The prospect of facing England in Kaliningrad hit the ground running, with Arroyo, Diaz, De Bruyne having criticised Perez, Tejada, on June 28 is a mouthwatering one. G. Torres All going to plan for these sides, first place will Martínez’s tactics after last November’s wild 3-3 draw with Defence Midfield be up for grabs. Then there are Martinez’s past Baloy, Cummings, Davis, Barcenas, Cooper, links to the Premier League and the presence of Mexico. Escobar, Murillo, Machado, Godoy, Gomez, Pimentel, Thierry Henry and Englishman Graeme Jones Ovalle, R. Torres Quintero, Rodriguez on his coaching staff. Source: FIFA © GRAPHIC NEWS The majority of his squad either play or have Panama played in England, but for now Martinez is only Strengths Weaknesses thinking about Panama. Roman Torres is carrying a slight knock coming into the meeting This team will not give up Román Torres, the forward with Belgium, but should be fit to without a fight. They will who was arguably the star start here. Head coach Hernán work hard, sometimes on of the qualifiers, has been Darío Gómez is expected to the limits of the rules, as injured and will not travel use a compact setup to try and they showed in a friendly to Russia in the best shape. frustrate Belgium. against Denmark in March. Match Facts • Belgium have won 9 of their last 10 WC matches. We’re not I don’t expect an What we lacked • There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Belgium’s last 10 WC games. • Belgium have scored at least 2 goals in 9 of their last 10 WC matches. favourites but if we easy game. The at the Euros, • There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Panama’s last 3 WC games. have a good day we first game in the Martinez wants to can do something World cup is always get. We have more • Belgium kick off their World and will look to carry that into They’re World Cup preparation Cup with a winnable meeting the competition. hasn’t been ideal, with just one good difficult experience than with Panama and they’ll hope to • Panama are hoping to spring win in their last five, and they DRIES MERTENS four years ago lay down an early marker here. an upset against Belgium, but will be up against the ropes HERNAN GOMEZ BELGIAN STRIKER THOMAS MEUNIER PANAMA COACH BELGIAN WINGER They’ve been in great form will struggle against one of the from the off when they face the coming into the tournament fiercest attacks in the game. Red Devils. PREVIEW Sweden VS South Korea Tunisia VS England In the post-Zlatan South Korea head coach Saif-Eddine Khaoui started both Gareth Southgate has reportedly settled on Ashley Young, Ibrahimovic era, Ola Shin Tae-yong could name I think the of Tunisia’s warm up matches and Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson over Danny Rose, Toivonen and Marcus Berg a 4-2-3-1 setup with Son history will help appears to have edged Wahbi Khazri Gary Cahill and Eric Dier, respectively. are set to lead the attack Heung-min behind Kim us in terms of in the pecking order. Naim Sliti will Marcus Rashford is carrying a knock and will likely have to for Sweden. Shin-wook in the final either start on the left flank or up settle for a place on the bench at best on Monday. Manchester United centre- third. understanding front for Nabil Maaloul’s side on Raheem Sterling looks set to partner Harry Kane up front, back Victor Lindelof Hwang Hee-chan may start what we can Monday night. while Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli are tipped to take up should partner Andreas out wide in this instance, improve upon and advanced midfield positions. Granqvist at the back. though he too could what we can do Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are other options Head coach Janne feature up front. Strengths in central midfield. Andersson has no injury Shin Tae-yong has no GARETH SOUTHGATE Wahbi Khazri has had an ENGLAND MANAGER issues here. pressing injury issues here. outstanding season on loan at Strengths Rennes from Sunderland Several players have picked up pleasing and will lead the attack. high-pressing habits from managers Match Facts such as Jürgen Klopp and Mauricio • There have been under Weaknesses Pochettino while Harry Kane is 2.5 goals scored in Sweden’s Injury to the lethal up front. last 3 WC games. squad’s most • Much of this match is creative player, Weaknesses riding on the outcome of Youssef Msakni, The three-man defence favoured Germany-Mexico in the has left a huge by Southgate nowadays has Group F opener on Sunday Some of the teams We always do creative gap for not been tested in competitive and both Sweden and South we played against this as a nation — Nabil Maâloul to games against the toughest Korea will hope to secure a were ranked top expectations are fill in attacking opposition.exploit. crucial three points. midfield. • Sweden haven’t won 15 in the world low and as soon in five and haven’t scored and they didn’t as we get to the more than one goal in a allow us many World Cup. If a match since an 8-0 win over chances to score World Cup cannot Match Facts Luxembourg last October, from but neither inspire a nation, • England have kept a clean margin in their last 3 matches. but they still haven’t put together a while South Korea have sheet in 9 of their last 11 WC complete 90-minute performance. won only one of their last did we allow then I’m not sure matches. • Tunisia impressed during a 1-0 • England have faltered at this six matches, losing four of them to get many what can • England have won 6 of their defeat to Spain in their final warm- stage of the World Cup before but those. chances DAN ASHWORTH last 7 matches. up match and will offer England a Gareth Southgate will be aiming • We could witness a low- ANDREAS GRANQVIST ENGLISH FA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR • Tunisia are undefeated in their close contest on Monday. for four points at the very least scoring affair here, which SWEDEN CAPTAIN last 8 matches. • There were positives to take before they face Belgium in their Sweden could edge. • England have won with a 1 goal from England’s warm-up matches final group game..

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