Belgium 3-0 Russia: Romelu Lukaku's brace and strike by Thomas Meunier get Roberto Martinez's side up and running at Euro 2020 as their Golden Generation start latest bid for international success

Romelu Lukaku clasped the lens with both hands and shouted into the television camera. ‘Chris, Chris, I love you!’

Belgium’s record scorer had just scored the first of his two goals in this Group B win over Russia and there was only one thing on his mind as he raced to find the nearest pitch-side camera in St Petersburg.

Only Lukaku knows what was going through his head in the minutes after his friend and Inter Milan teammate Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s group opener against Finland. 

The same goes for Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld who have spent most of their careers playing alongside Eriksen at Ajax and Tottenham.

As the world anxiously waited for news on Eriksen, just imagine how the three Belgians were feeling as they tried to prepare for their country’s first game.

A year’s delay for Euro 2020, months of build-up, weeks of preparation and suddenly they were in turmoil as the horrific events unfolded in Copenhagen.

Mercifully, more positive news emerged on Eriksen’s condition but it was a horrible situation for his friends in the Belgium camp. Vertonghen still looked in a state of shock in the tunnel before kick-off.

‘I had a lot of tears before the game,’ admitted Lukaku. ‘It was difficult to focus. Other players were affected too.

‘I’m happy with the victory, but my thoughts are with Christian. I’m going to contact him. I read that he’s out of danger. I hope he’ll be in good health soon.’

As ever at times like this when events on the football field veer towards tragedy and a man’s life hangs in the balance, everything else pales into insignificance. Certainly, Martinez and his players will be relieved to get this game out of the way.

It turned into an easy win after what has been a difficult build-up for the world’s No.1 ranked team.

Kevin De Bruyne was absent due to the facial injury he sustained playing for Manchester City in the Champions League final, and so too Axel Witsel as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles.

Eden Hazard, another of Belgium’s key men, is still suffering the after-effects of another wretched season at Real Madrid and was kept on the bench for more than 70 minutes.

Meanwhile, Leicester City’s Timothy Castagne will miss the rest of Euro 2020 following a sickening clash of heads with Daler Kuzyaev in the 25th minute which forced both players out of the game.

By then, Belgium were well in control following Lukaku’s goal in the 10th minute. It was presented to him by Andrei Semenov who allowed Dries Mertens’ cross to squirm through his legs, gifting Lukaku the ball in front of goal as well as playing him onside. The Inter striker turned to drag a left-foot shot past Anton Shunin and into the bottom corner. 

It came at a time when Russia were enjoying their best period of an otherwise disappointing night for Stanislav Cherchesov’s team as both Mario Fernandes and Magomed Ozdoev wasted opportunities.

However, Belgium regained control and it was no surprise when Thomas Meunier scored their second goal in the 34th minute.

Lukaku had threatened again when he powered past Georgi Dzhikiya who produced an excellent tackle to prevent the big striker getting a shot off. Shunin then rushed off his line to thwart Thorgan Hazard.

But when Hazard sent in an inswinging cross from the left, Shunin appeared to be put off by the three players who challenged for it and pushed the ball out to the edge of the six-yard box instead of catching it. Meunier, on as a substitute for Castagne, turned the ball into the empty net.

Lukaku made it 3-0 in the 89th minute, accelerating away from Igor Diveev to latch onto Meunier’s pass and rifle home his 62nd goal in 94 internationals and 40th of the season for club and country. 

‘The result seems fair,’ Cherchesov. ‘It could have been closer but for some silly mistakes from us.’

So Belgium got their campaign off to a winning start on the ground where they beat England in a third place play-off at the last World Cup.

The hope is that De Bruyne could be available again soon and Eden Hazard will benefit from getting another 20 minutes into his legs, although he did very little of note last night. Belgium, one suspects, are only going to get even better.

Now they move on to Copenhagen and what was meant to be their most challenging group game against Denmark on Thursday.

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