(AFP) - Belgium, the third in the last edition, finished its preparations for the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar, with an alarming loss to Egypt 1-2 on Friday at Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait in an international friendly match.
The Pharaohs advanced with the goals of the French Nantes strikers, Mustafa Mohamed (34), and the Turkish Trabzonspor, Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” (46), and the Red Devils narrowed the difference in the second half, through the replacement, French Lens striker Luis Obenda (76).
It is true that Belgium played the match in the absence of some key players due to injury, most notably Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku, who is in doubt about his participation in the World Cup, but the performance of the captain, Real Madrid star Eden Hazard, who was a ghost in the match, and his teammates raises the concern of his Spanish coach Roberto. Martinis.
The loss came four days before the Red Devils played their first match in the World Cup Qatar against Canada in the first round of Group F competitions, which includes Morocco and Croatia, runners-up of the Russian World Cup 2018.
It is the fourth victory for Egypt over Belgium in five confrontations between them, in exchange for one loss.
Belgium started the match well and almost opened the scoring through Turkish Fenerbahçe striker Michy Batshuayi, who touched the crossbar (9).
The Pharaohs, who are preparing to resume the qualifiers for the 2024 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, responded with a powerful shot by Trezeguet from inside the area, which Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pushed into a corner (11).
And the same player almost put the Pharaohs in front after he received a through pass from Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, and he singled out and hit a ball in Courtois's body that turned into a corner (21).
The Egyptian team succeeded in opening the scoring when Mohamed took advantage of a pass error on the borders of the Belgium penalty area, dodging Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and hitting it to the left of Courtois (34).
Mohamed El-Shennawy saved the Pharaohs’ goal from a goal by blocking a shot by Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco from outside the area (38).
Martinez pushed Leicester City midfielder Yuri Tielemans and Galatasaray striker Dries Mertens and Obenda in place of Club Brugge midfielder Hans Vanaken, De Bruyne and Batshuayi at the beginning of the second half, but his net conceded a second goal through Trezeguet after a pass from Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah (46).
Cotroa saved his goal from a third goal by blocking Trezeguet's single shot after a through pass from Salah (52).
Martinez involved Borussia Dortmund German defender Thomas Monnier and Anderlecht defender Jan Vertonghen in Hazard's place and French Rennes defender Arthur Theatt (71). Five minutes later, Belgium succeeded in reducing the difference through Obinda after a pass from Carrasco hit it hard into the goal (76).
Salah responded with a powerful shot that passed near the right post of Courtois' goal (87).