He has come a long way. So have the travelling Canadians, whose frequent roars were a reminder of what the World Cup means to those who have spent decades dreaming of ending their exile from this stage. The Belgians were outnumbered, outsung and outshot: at 22-9, it was not even close.
There were moments for Canada to savour: the outstanding sliding blocks from Kamal Miller and Richie Laryea when Batshuayi seemed set to score, and the time Stephen Eustaquio nutmegged Kevin de Bruyne.
But there were a couple they could rue, too, and their most lustrous talent had most to regret.
For Alphonso Davies, the refugee who arrived in Canada at four and will probably prove his country’s greatest player, it was the day when he should have scored their maiden World Cup goal.
But perhaps the wait to take his penalty was agonisingly long: too long, perhaps, for Davies, whose tame, telegraphed spot-kick was parried by Courtois.
Thibaut Courtois dives to save Alphonso Davies’ penalty
It was a game of two VAR decisions: one given, one not. The initial verdict was merely that Tajon Buchanan’s hooked shot was deflected through to Courtois. A VAR review later and there was a mighty roar: the telling touch had come from Yannick Carrasco’s hand and Canada had their 10th-minute chance. Yet they were unfortunate to be denied a second spot-kick after Axel Witsel tripped Richie Laryea.
And a couple of minutes later, Belgium pounced. It was a beautiful goal in an ugly display, Toby Alderweireld displaying his prowess as a long passer with a 50-yard ball, Michy Batshuayi latching on to it with a sweetly struck half-volley. And yet Canada should rue the manner of it: unlocked by a straight pass from Belgium’s half, it felt far too easy.
But in an instant, the absence of the injured Romelu Lukaku did not matter. It extended Batshuayi’s outstanding goalscoring record for his country: for all the deficiencies in the rest of his game, he can be a potent finisher.
Belgium had little else to enjoy. Play like this and it is inconceivable they will go as far as they did in 2018. Eden Hazard produced one gorgeous touch but was otherwise quiet. De Bruyne looked frustrated by the failings around him. Yannick Carrasco and Youri Tielemans did not even make it back out for the second half.
Martinez brought on Amadou Onana and Thomas Meunier at half-time; that each was booked in swift succession suggested they were told to add toughness. But they scarcely brought the fluency Belgium were lacking and Alderweireld, who was defiant in defence, had to make a series of clearances. At the final whistle, many of his team-mates sank to their haunches in a combination of exhaustion and relief.
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Because Canada had started at pace and been relentless thereafter. Jonathan David allied elusiveness with profligacy in attack. He was denied a goal partly because of a series of blocks from the Belgian defence and partly because of his own inability to hit the target. Courtois was at least tested by Alistair Johnston, who connected crisply with a rising drive.
As Canada sought an equaliser, David skied a shot from inside the six-yard box and headed wide. Yet they missed that clinical touch Batshuayi provided. Now, after losing to the team who finished third in the last World Cup, they face the side who came second, in Croatia. Canada were ranked 72nd then but, as they displayed, they are a very different proposition now.
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