Leandro Trossard and Kevin De Bruyne were among the goalscorers as Belgium warmed up for the World Cup with a 5-0 thrashing of fellow qualifiers Tunisia in Brussels this afternoon.
It was the perfect send-off for Rudi Garcia’s side before they jet over the Atlantic ahead of their Group G opener against Egypt on June 15.
Facing Tunisia gave the Red Devils experience of North African opposition but it is unlikely Egypt will be as accommodating as a side that played the final half-hour with 10 men following the dismissal of Ismael Gharbi.
Tunisia were drawn in a tough World Cup pool alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden and they will have to show a marked improvement if they are not to become the whipping boys in Group F.
Belgium quickly out of the blocks
The onslaught started in the first minute with Trossard seeing a shot brilliantly saved by Tunisia goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh.
De Bruyne then flashed a shot past the post before Belgium made the breakthrough after 28 minutes. Jeremy Doku was the architect with a mazy dribble down the left and his low cross was perfect for Trossard to tap into the net from close range.
Brandon Mechele ought to have made it 2-0 four minutes later but powered his header just over the bar.
Belgium were in complete control and extended their advantage eight minutes into the second half, Charles De Ketelaere nodding in Yuri Tielemans’ left-wing centre.
Tunisia had offered little as an attacking force but almost halved the deficit after 58 minutes when Elias Achouri found a yard of space inside the area and crashed a shot against the right-hand post.
Gharbi dismissal gives Belgium helping hand
The visitors’ brief flurry ended when Gharbi fouled Doku and was shown a second yellow card, leaving Sabri Lamouchi’s side with an uphill task.
De Bruyne added Belgium’s third with a low shot from the edge of the area as the game descended into what resembled a training exercise for the hosts.
Dodi Lukebakio made it 4-0 with five minutes to go and Nicolas Raskin added to Tunisia’s misery a minute later.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku ought to have scored in injury time but took too long in getting his shot away, but it mattered little as Belgium cruised home.
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