well i must say it's always a pleasure to be at this fantastic venue the metropolitano in the
spanish capital madrid i'm derek ray positioned here on the commentary gantry and alongside me
at the microphone is stuart robson and we have group stage action from the cup coming up for you
it's spain and they take on belgium well it's vital that you don't have an off day
in these group games consistency is key to progressing further in
the tournament i'm looking forward to a hard fought contest here today derek
here's the lineup for spain as filipueta starts with jordi alba in the fullback positions
thiago starts with sergio busquets in central midfield and the main striker today is marasa
and now they get the ball rolling
well strong play here
he's very adept at protecting the ball
and they could face difficulties here and there it is the opening goal the ideal way to start
well here it is again he hits this so sweetly doesn't he
that's a brilliant goal from a top-class player
one nil then
and torres on the ball
thiago
and that's great work to keep it in play the cross is on
being pressed hard
and that's an important intervention
okay
it might be on for them
and it wasn't a great pass was it
can he finish body on the line
chance to do damage
using all his defensive acumen to cut it out
that is how to apply the pressure
benteke that's a splendid pass from romelu lukaku well it was close but
offside nonetheless well it's a matter of inches there but he just went a fraction too early
thiago and they want that equalizer but their passing remains smooth
and a fine cross he's gone and found the net brilliant piece of finishing magnificent goal
well here's the replay and it's a really inviting ball played into
the box begging players to attack it and it makes the striker's job so easy
all he has to do is make the right connection it's a lovely goal
back underway level pegging one girl a piece in this game
kevin de bruyne
de bruyne
dennis bryant
and belgium in a position of menace
an alert piece of defending
and the counter attackers on options available
might really be able to trouble them here is up there
well it was a brilliant break but no goal as a result well forget the finish and just
admire the way they counter attack there they did it with such pace and quality
opportunity as it is let's fly here well chance wasted well through on goal you
have to show more sense here he's just put his head down and whacked it not good enough
so one minute of stoppage time that's what the officials have said
so the whistle then we're at the halfway stage in this match
well he's been the standout for his side so far don't you think stuart well he certainly got his
team back into this game with that goal because up to that point they hadn't played particularly well
i think he's had a decent first half but he'll be looking to build on his goal
the teams are ready to have a go at each other again as the second half commences
thiago
and the right place to cut out the pass
lukaku
98 so deflection and they can get ready for the corner kick routine
and over it comes on a time for calm on the ball
geometric position from tiago and it all counts for naught
oh yes he's going to be proud of that moment what purity of strike caused it absolutely perfectly
well just look at this strike again he hits it so well
that's a great bit of steal no wonder he's pleased with himself
so the action underway again and the onus is on belgium to come up with a response now
okay and torres on the ball
that's peely creta good looking cross always going to be the goalkeeper's ball
lukaku
can't miss surely my goodness that save fully stretched he was one for his own highlights reel
they decided that now is the time to go to the bench can someone get on the end of this
great reflex action well that should have been a goal mind you it's a brilliant save
it is a free kick
no yellow card instead a firm warning from the official
sergio busquets thiago
now jordi alba
that needs an accurate cross
really vital interception it might be perfectly set up for the counter attack you know
now what can they do from here
dennis bryant well disappointing for belgium to give it away like that
struggling to keep the ball dennis pratt still pressing for a goal here lukaku
and barring the door was lapot
and he might be through here what late excitement and the match is the level
well let's take another look and wow how cleanly does he hit that
the keeper was never going to save it what a good goal that is
well another equalizer what a topsy-turvy game this has been
tiago
five minutes left well what a final few minutes we have here and the fans are certainly playing
their part but can they take one of these chances that come their way and win this game
and given the situation a goal at this stage might well turn out to be a winner
so two minutes of stoppage time to be added on danny almo able to deal with the threat
and there is the final whistle an evenly contested game
and both teams will have to be content with a point here on match day one stuart
well a draw was just about the right result but the focus has to be on the next game now
both sides will be looking for their first win otherwise they could be playing catch-up
roman lukaku does know how to take a game by the scruff of the neck what would be your verdict on
his performance yeah he played well didn't he so clinical in front of goal but you have to
feel for him we didn't quite get the same quality from his teammates today particularly at the back