World Cup 2018: Belgium v Tunisia live blog, score, video

BELGIUM have taken a 4-1 half-time lead against Tunisia, with Romelu Lukaku scoring a first-half brace.

Belgium snatched an early 1-0 lead via an Eden Hazard penalty in the sixth minute.

Syam Ben Youssef fouled the Chelsea star, with a VAR confirming the foul was on the line of the 18-yard box.

Hazard easily dispatched the spot kick into the bottom corner.

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Then, a fizzing Romelu Lukaku strike doubled the Belgians’ lead in the 16th minute, before Dylan Bronn’s 18th-minute header, off the back of a free kick, cut the deficit to 2-1.

But Belgium would score again before the half was out.

Thomas Meunier weaved his way through the Tunisia defence before sliding a clever ball through to Lukaku, who dinked it over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Tunisia were hit by injury in the first half, with goalscorer Bronn stretchered off, and Syam Ben Youssef also forced from the field.

Then, in the 51st minute, Hazard made it 4-1.

The Chelsea star took a touch with his chest to bring the ball down, another to round the goalkeeper and then tapped the ball into the back of the net.

The Belgians want to win at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow to avoid making their final group game against England on June 28 a make-or-break qualification affair.

STARTING XIs

Belgium

Thibaut Courtois; Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco; Eden Hazard (capt), Dries Mertens; Romelu Lukaku

Tunisia

Farouk Mustapha; Syam Ben Youssef, Yassine Meriah, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Ali Maaloul; Dylan Bronn, Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi; Saif-Eddine Khaoui, Wahbi Khazri (capt), Anice Badri

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“It is a worry that in any of those tackles he could really get hurt,” said Belgium’s Spanish coach. “It doesn’t worry me if that is just their way of trying to stop him.” History favours the Belgians.

They are yet to lose to African opposition at a World Cup, while Tunisia have never beaten a European side at a finals.

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