Belgium vs Egypt

Egypt started brightly and were rewarded in the 19th minute with a goal that will feature in this tournament's highlight reel for years. Mohamed Salah, deployed as a No. 10 by manager Hossam Hassan, slipped a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of Ashour, who swept a first-time finish beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois.

Ashour's celebration was as memorable as the strike itself. The Al-Ahly winger broke out a strutting 'Billionaire Strut' — reminiscent of WWE's Vince McMahon — before being unceremoniously barged to the turf by over-excited teammate Mostafa Ziko. It was a rare moment of levity in an otherwise fiercely competitive contest.

Belgium dominated possession with 54% across the match but lacked incision in the final third in the opening 45 minutes. Head coach Rudi Garcia opted for Charles De Ketelaere as a false nine, but the Atalanta forward struggled to impose himself, touching the ball only four times in the Egyptian box before being substituted.

Kevin De Bruyne, carrying much of Belgium's creative burden, laboured through the first hour. The Napoli midfielder misfired on several occasions and struck the post with a curling effort just after the hour mark — a miss that seemed to sum up Belgium's frustration.

Garcia turned to his bench in the 66th minute, sending on Lukaku for De Ketelaere. What followed was the definition of an impact substitution.

Within 23 seconds of stepping onto the pitch, Lukaku used his trademark power and presence to storm into the six-yard box as Thomas Meunier fired a low cross into the danger area. Under pressure from Belgium's all-time top scorer, Egypt defender Mohamed Hany could only turn the ball into his own net.

Lukaku, who made just five Serie A appearances for Napoli last season due to injury, proved that tournament nous and physical presence remain invaluable assets at the highest level. He should have added a winner with a late header but glanced it wide.

Egypt have now gone 92 years without a World Cup victory — the second-longest active drought among teams never to have won at the tournament, behind only Bolivia (96 years). This was their eighth match at the finals across four appearances (1934, 1990, 2018, 2026) and they have yet to taste victory.

Despite the disappointment of not holding on, there were genuine positives for Hossam Hassan's side. Salah, celebrating his 34th birthday, was influential in his central playmaking role, creating the opener and causing Belgium's holding midfielders persistent problems. The tactical flexibility Hassan showed — shifting Salah to No. 10 and moving Ashour out wide — paid dividends.

Hassan withdrew Salah with 15 minutes remaining after Belgium's equaliser, a conservative decision that prioritised protecting a point. Given the quality of Belgium's late pressure, it may prove a shrewd one.

Both sides take a point from this opening Group G encounter. Belgium, ranked among the tournament's stronger teams on paper, will need more cutting edge when they face their remaining group opponents. Egypt, buoyed by their competitive display, will face New Zealand and Iran with genuine belief that their long wait for a World Cup win could finally end.

For Belgium, questions persist about whether their 'golden generation' — now reduced to cameo appearances from ageing stars — can still compete at the sharp end of the tournament. But as Lukaku proved in Seattle, writing off Belgium's veterans comes with considerable risk.

• Possession: Belgium 54% — Egypt 46%
• Shots: Belgium 15 (3 on target) — Egypt 14 (3 on target)
• Expected Goals (xG): Belgium 1.32 — Egypt 1.07
• Yellow cards: Belgium 2 — Egypt 2
• Substitutions: Belgium 5 — Egypt 5
• Referee: Ramon Abatti Abel
• Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle