Belgium vs. Panama

Group G, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

Entering the tournament, Panama was the betting favorite to score the fewest goals in Russia, likely for good reason: The defensive-minded Canaleros have scored exactly one goal in five international matches this year. But they also haven’t allowed that many. Apart from a 6-0 loss to Switzerland in March — Coach Hernan Dario Gomez was tinkering with his lineup — Panama has given up just two goals this year. That defense will come in handy against a Belgium squad with perhaps the most feared stable of goal-scorers in the tournament, thanks to Premier League stalwarts Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.

Starting lineups

Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen, Meunier, Witsel, De Bruyne, Carrasco, Mertens, Hazard, Lukaku.

Panama: Penedo, Román, Escobar, Davis, Murillo, Gómez, Godoy, Cooper, Bárcenas, Rodríguez, Blas Pérez.

When: Monday, June 18, 11 a.m. Eastern

How to watch on TV: FS1.

How to stream online: Fox Sports and the Fox Soccer Match Pass apps and FoxSportsGo.com.

How to watch in Spanish: Telemundo.

How to watch in Canada: Bell Media’s TSN and CTV networks, the TSN GO app and TSN.ca/live.

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Team profiles

Belgium

  • Last showing in the World Cup: Quarterfinals, 2014.
  • Best finish: Fourth place, 1986.
  • Notable: The Red Devils have advanced past the group stage in five of their past six appearances but have made it past the quarterfinals just once, 32 years ago.
  • FIFA world ranking: 3. ELO world ranking: 8.

Panama

  • Last showing in the World Cup: First appearance.
  • Best finish: First appearance.
  • Notable: First appearance.
  • FIFA world ranking: 55. ELO world ranking: 47.

Players to watch 

Panama is likely to employ only one striker as it seeks to keep Belgium out of the net and it could be 37-year-old Blas Perez, whose 43 national-team goals ties him for most in Panama history. Perez has journeyed all over the map during his lengthy club career: Panama, Uruguay, Colombia, Spain, Mexico and the United States.

What’s next 

Belgium: vs. Tunisia in Moscow, June 13.

Panama: vs. England in Nizhny-Novgorod, June 24.

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