00:03What a sight, and Belgium 17th World Cup appearance for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
00:13They make four changes from their opening group game with Egypt.
00:17Nikola Raskan is one of the four newcomers, along with Alexis Salamakas and the long-serving
00:27Romelu Lukaku after an injury-ravaged season. He starts to head as Charles de Quetelara.
00:36Iran makes three changes from their opening 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
00:41Kanani comes into defence, as does Khadani.
00:46Ramin Rezaian was magnificent in that opening group match.
00:54Made it, it's our aiming.
00:58So, Belgium get this group team match underway.
01:03A section in which, in the second round of matches, no team can go forward to the knockout stages.
01:10No team can be eliminated, after all four.
01:16Only have, including today, 17 caps between them.
01:20They've lost the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld and Vincent Kompany.
01:26So what can Belgium make of the match's opening corner?
01:29It's a good one, and Iran defend it well.
01:34Put in by De Bruyne. Awkward one for Beran Van, the goalkeeper, who's taken a knock, I think.
01:41And that's exactly why it was such an issue for Beran Van.
01:45Because Lukaku's just trying to get in there in front of the goalkeeper.
01:50He has a right to go for it, because it's such a teasing cross from De Bruyne.
01:55Toremi quickly dispossessed, but Iran almost springing a counter-attack there.
02:02And now it's Belgium on the front foot.
02:12Nice change of body direction there from Trossard.
02:16Excellent cross!
02:17On the rebound, and gathered by...
02:21He's rather at the goalkeeper here, but his reflexes had to be good.
02:25Super play by Trossard.
02:27Back towards De Bruyne, that wasn't a great effort.
02:32First stoppage, Nick Kunam's national record.
02:41Has Jampie again.
02:46First threat from Iran!
02:49Almost led to a goal!
02:51Fine save!
02:53That's why he's one of the best in the world.
02:55Thibaut Courtois.
02:57Canani it was, it just swivelled in the area when it dropped to him.
03:00Brilliant strike.
03:03Courtois stays at home, and is not engaged.
03:10Spacing behind the right side of that.
03:12Iran defence again.
03:14That's where the threat's coming from.
03:16Here's Trossard.
03:17Excellent defending.
03:23Munye.
03:26Beran Van.
03:28Revised firmly on that.
03:31Yeah, good goalkeeping.
03:32Beran Van, he's recovered well after that.
03:35See how high the Belgium centre-backs are.
03:39Here's Mekulic.
03:45Thielemans.
03:46He can hit them!
03:51As we see, Thielemans allowed to get out of his feet.
03:55Tried to deceive Beran Van with the near post strike.
04:00Certainly did.
04:07Appeals for handball.
04:09Referee had a very good view of that.
04:11Dario Herrera of Argentina.
04:13Just seemed to catch the arm of Raskin.
04:17Slightly off the thigh, but still the arm then protruded outwards.
04:23I'm sure that Iran will look to strike towards goal from this sort of distant.
04:29Scorer in the opening group game, the number 23 against New Zealand.
04:34But it's Hadzafi, it's neat, it's tidy!
04:40And it's decisive!
04:47Maybe Thielemans, one off the training ground.
04:51I absolutely love it.
04:53This will be looked at, of course.
04:55From an offside perspective.
04:56I love the invention.
04:58I just love the way Thielemans looks like he's not interested in.
05:02Went in towards Thielemans.
05:12Well, it's offside.
05:18Frustration for Thielemans and Iran.
05:21De Bruyne.
05:28Nermatti doing a good job there on Salamakis.
05:31Belgium retain possession.
05:34De Bruyne.
05:35Been heavily involved so far.
05:40Thielemans.
05:43Now Mounier.
05:45Goalkeeper commits and takes all the pressure off his defenders.
05:49Here's Mounier.
05:58Not the best of challengers.
06:00And it's earned a yellow card for Syed Azatelahi.
06:05Yeah, referees don't look kindly really on the pullback.
06:10Good looking cross.
06:11Met well by Lukaku.
06:14Thielemans was offside from the initial pass,
06:17but the cross-in was delightful.
06:25De Kaipa.
06:32Oh, De Bruyne.
06:33is certainly garnering some attention here.
06:40Fouled yet again.
06:42Asking the referee for a little more protection, Kevin De Bruyne.
06:46Good in by Da Kaipa.
06:58Lovely weight on the pass.
07:01De Bruyne was trying to hook it into the path of Lukaku.
07:04Stunning, wasn't it?
07:05The ball from Trossard over the top.
07:08Absolutely perfect.
07:18Thielemans finding the run of De Kaipa.
07:30No.
07:34No.
07:36No.
07:40No.
07:42No.
07:43Can you get the telling cross?
07:45Not quite.
07:47And in good positions.
07:50As that ball's played through.
07:52Thalemakers really tight offside.
07:56Azatelahi again.
07:58It's either himself or...
08:00Four weight in red.
08:02One of the more disappointing crosses.
08:04That one from De Bruyne.
08:09And deep into stoppage time.
08:11But with just over the minimum of eight minutes.
08:14And referee Dario Herrera of Argentina
08:17draws the first half to a conclusion.
08:20Mehdi Thalemi had the ball in the net
08:22after an excellently worked Iran free kick.
08:30So Iran in the all-white attack the goal away to our right
08:34in this second half.
08:36First goal could be crucial here in this group team match.
08:40De Kaipa.
08:43Trossard is so dangerous in those areas.
08:45De Bruyne.
08:48Extra touch.
08:49Allow them to defend.
08:59I would be surprised if Romelu Lukaku could last 70 minutes today.
09:05Well Garcia will want the...
09:08in the minutes upcoming.
09:12In by De Bruyne.
09:14That'll be a corner.
09:19Small flight on that one.
09:21Oh!
09:22Side netting only.
09:24No, that deep ball from De Bruyne.
09:27He sees it all the way for the side volley.
09:30I think he'd be disappointed.
09:35Salamakis.
09:36Tielemans.
09:37Taken on by...
09:39De Kaipa.
09:41Tielemans.
09:46In by De Bruyne.
09:47Teasing.
09:49Just a little too.
09:51In the block.
09:52They've done that so well.
09:54They've done that so well.
09:54When it was played back in.
09:56It might have been offside.
09:57Sporting history in Los Angeles.
10:00The only city in the United States with seven teams in the...
10:06And the shot on the volley.
10:08And the shot on the volley.
10:09Dealt with.
10:11Tushin.
10:12I think in a moment.
10:14Yeah, that Turemi chance though.
10:16Caught it really well.
10:18On the volley with the right foot.
10:21Of Courtois.
10:22Great positioning.
10:23Pat it away.
10:27Raskin.
10:28Salamakis.
10:28And Munier.
10:29Are going to make way shortly.
10:32Lukaku.
10:38Just prowling.
10:56The reactions are just stunning.
10:59De Bruyne.
11:01Showing his class with the touch.
11:03And playing that in through the legs.
11:06Nematy.
11:06Brilliant.
11:07But then.
11:07Biran Vand.
11:09How quick is he up?
11:10How strong is that left hand?
11:13Wow indeed.
11:16In by Van Aken and Biran Vand.
11:20Belgium sensing a breakthrough now.
11:23Ludibakio.
11:25Punched away by Biran Vand.
11:27He's happy to see.
11:28Should have taken that in.
11:30To his stomach.
11:32Instead he chooses to punch.
11:34Straight to Van Aken.
11:35To try to cushion.
11:37The attempt back over the goalkeeper.
11:42Toremi.
11:44Just out of his reach.
11:48Madshafi's.
11:50Expensive pass.
11:52And Goy.
11:53Looking to see this out.
11:55Concede now.
12:06Oh.
12:10Big decision for the referee.
12:14And a red guard.
12:18For N'Goy.
12:21The referee.
12:22Rudy Garcia looks on.
12:23Nervously.
12:25Tilo Ons.
12:28Pays the price for that.
12:34A little grab out.
12:35There wasn't too much contact.
12:37But.
12:37It can be intense.
12:39From the referee's point of view.
12:40Well it's the panic.
12:42From a young player.
12:43Who knows he's made a mistake.
12:45With the touch.
12:46And the pass back.
12:48And it's an instinct.
12:49I think.
12:49Just to reach out.
12:51In panic.
12:58In behind Belgium now.
13:00Iran.
13:01But that's very calmly done.
13:04Loose is out.
13:07The shot's on.
13:09Relatively comfortable.
13:11For Courtois.
13:13The strike.
13:15As Atalahi was.
13:17Sizing up that effort.
13:21Look at Bakio.
13:28Free kick.
13:30With the amount of effort.
13:31That they've exerted.
13:32Iran.
13:35Berenvan.
13:36Ups.
13:37To punch.
13:45Substitution was delayed.
13:47Ezra Talahi.
13:48Took too long.
13:50To go off.
13:52And another fine save.
13:53From Berenvan.
13:54Once again.
13:56He doesn't get.
13:58The required power.
13:59On the strike.
14:00Hits it into the floor.
14:02Takes the.
14:03Power out of it.
14:04The late sub.
14:05In the opening game.
14:06Against Egypt.
14:07Plays in France.
14:09With Lille.
14:11Berenvan.
14:12Did well to keep his hands.
14:14Out of the way there.
14:18Back come the Iranians again.
14:20To hand back.
14:22Put the flags up.
14:23For offside.
14:27Look at Bakio.
14:30It wasn't a bad cross.
14:32But the defending's good enough.
14:34Tillemans that.
14:35Was trying to.
14:37Drift in.
14:38At the back post.
14:41Feed that run.
14:42Here's Tiat.
14:51Well.
14:52It opened up.
14:53Oh.
14:53He did the first part.
14:54Really well.
14:58Struggling to engage.
14:59For a moment.
15:00Iran.
15:01Look at Bakio.
15:04He had it covered.
15:06Of course he did.
15:07Berenvan.
15:12Just came across.
15:14He ran.
15:15On the cusp.
15:16Of.
15:17Making some.
15:17Positive history.
15:18Themselves.
15:19By.
15:20Avoiding defeat.
15:21In their first two matches.
15:22Of the world cup.
15:23They're very close now.
15:26Referee.
15:27Herrera.
15:27Of Argentina.
15:28Has had several looks.
15:29At the watch.
15:31And that's it.
15:32He was absolutely.
15:34Superb.
15:38Embraced.
15:39By.
15:40Center back.
15:40Calilzada.
15:43At the red card.
15:44For Ingoy.
15:45Didn't help.
15:46Belgium's cause.
15:48They still had enough.
15:50Possession.
15:50Maybe.
15:50To have squeaked it.
15:51In the end.
15:52But it's finished.
15:53Belgium nearly ran nil.
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