World Cup analysis: Belgium should hold no fear for England but physical Panama could cause problems

Belgium overcame a slow start to defeat debutants Panama 3-0 in their opening World Cup game in Sochi.

A stunner from Dries Mertens and two from Romelu Lukaku was eventually enough to down the Panamanians in their first World Cup appearance.

On paper, Belgium are the strongest side in the group and one of the best in Russia but they looked less than the sum of their parts in Sochi, despite a comfortable 3-0 win over World Cup debutants Panama.

Roberto Martinez has said he is 'privileged' to lead this Golden Generation of players but the manager's system did not allow enough of them to shine, particularly in the first half when too much of their build-up play was sluggish and predictable.

It took a sublime volley from Dries Mertens to make the breakthrough and Romelu Lukaku added gloss with two well-taken goals. In the end, the scoreline was more impressive than the Belgium performance against a nation ranked 55th in the world, particularly given how shaky Martinez's side looked at the back in the absence of injured captain Vincent Kompany. Panama remained determined, even at 3-0 down, and they were unlucky not to score at least once.

Although the result was impressive, Belgium's showing does little to suggest they are among the favourites to win the World Cup. In fact, on this evidence, England have nothing to fear from their meeting with Belgium in Kaliningrad, widely expected to decide the group, and there is plenty for Gareth Southgate to ponder ahead of that match.

Belgium's front four step up

It may not have been an entirely convincing win but, ultimately, Belgium's big attacking stars stepped-up when it mattered to break brave Panama's resistance. With the minnows growing in confidence, Mertens' brilliant volley finally broke their resistance at the perfect time -- just after the interval and before any Belgium frustration had set-in. The Napoli winger may not be familiar to Premier League fans but he has been one of the stars of this season's Serie A, scoring 18 times for the runners-up.

Likewise, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku had all been frustrated before combining brilliantly for Belgium's second, which ended the game as a contest. Hazard weaved into the box, found De Bruyne and the Man City star's outside-of-the-boot cross was nodded in by Lukaku at the back post. Hazard and Lukaku then combined in style for the third goal. It may not have been the most cohesive Belgium performance but this was evidence that their front four are as dangerous as any in Russia.

England will have to match Panama's physicality

If there is one thing England should be wary of ahead of the meeting with Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday, it the Central Americans' physicality. Southgate's squad of Premier League players will be used to that, of course, but Panama showed against Belgium they are not afraid to dish out kickings -- hard and often -- and England will have to keep their heads, particularly if Panama frustrate them, as they did Belgium in the first half. Panama finished the game with five bookings and Hazard, in particular, was on the receiving end of some clatterings. If Panama have done their homework, they will target Dele Alli, always susceptible to a niggle, and hope to draw a rise out of Southgate's inexperienced squad.

Lukaku a contender for the Golden Boot

For nearly an hour, Lukaku was excellently marshalled by Ramon Torres, the veteran Panama defender who scored the winning goal against Costa Rica to seal their place at the finals. Torres was winning the aerial battle and he did well to take the ball off Lukaku's toe with a last-ditch lunge, with the goal was gaping. The Manchester United forward's only chance of the first period came when he was slipped in one-on-one with goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who did well to smother.

But, like all the best strikers, Lukaku recovered from that miss to score his next big chance, nodding home De Buryne's wicked cross to break the deadlock. You could see his confidence return thereafter and his next one-on-one with Penedo could not have been more different from the first as he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper to put gloss on Belgium's victory.

Lukaku has barely been mentioned as one of the contender's to win the Golden Boot...but why not? He has the quality, and the support cast, to keep scoring and, if Belgium can make a deep run, he will be in contention for the prize.

Panama fans bring Sochi to life

For the first five days of the tournament, Sochi has remained relatively tranquil, at least compared to some of the electric scenes in Moscow, but the Panama fans have added colour to this Black Sea resort, which was populated by more mildly-interested Russian holidaymakers than frenzied fans before today. For their first World Cup match, the Panamanians outnumbered their opponents in the stands by more than five to one, with more than five thousand Panama fans in Sochi's Fisht Olympic Stadium.

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From the moment the flags were unfurled on the pitch prematch, it was the Panama fans making all the noise and they remained as lively until the death, roaring at a late chance for Anibal Cooper as if it was still 0-0. Panama may not be at these finals for long but make the most of their fans while they are.