Belgium and Egypt played out a pulsating 1-1 draw in Seattle on Monday, June 15, kicking off the World Cup for both teams. Egypt took the lead in the 20th minute after Emam Ashour drilled a low shot in from the top of the box.

The weather, the new, temporary grass pitch, the just-about-packed stadium, scenes outside Lumen Field make a hugely successful match day 1.

The Belgium manager Rudi Garcia did not mince his words when he was asked about Romelu Lukaku’s fitness heading into the striker’s fourth World Cup. “He’s out of shape,” said Garcia, before explaining why he would be selecting the former Chelsea and Manchester United forward regardless.

This is certainly not how the Belgians imagined it. In their opening match against Egypt, the Belgian Red Devils are really struggling. Or to put it another way: the North African team has hit top form at exactly the right moment.