By Frans van Hees | www.AboutBrasil.com | Week 25, June 2014

Rio de Janeiro — The Belgians started World Cup 2014 in Brazil hesitantly, but eventually got away with it against Algeria. In the first soccer match of

World Cup group H, Team Belgium

won with a

2-1 score against Algeria

. It was substitute Dries Mertens who delivered the Red Devils victory with a delicious swipe ten minutes from time.

The expectations were high, but that seemed to have a cripling effect on the Belgians. The soccer team of Belgium played to slow and uninspired against Algeria. They lacked focus and drive and made a powerless impression. Star player Eden Hazard was hardly involved in the Belgian soccer play.

Stupid Jan Vertonghen gave away a penalty and got a yellow card

Algeria scored 0-1 from a penalty kick. A stupid action by Jan Verthongen grabbed the shirt of his opponent Sofiane Feghouli, who fell in the penalty area. Verthongen got a yellow card as well and it was Feghouli himself who converted the penalty after 25 minutes.

For rest of the first half, Belgium was hardly dangerous. There were opportunities for Nacer Chadli and Axel Witsel, but their shots lacked power or sharpness.

Only after fifteen minutes into the second half, Belgium began to play with more pressure against the defending Team Algeria. Algeria could not resist it any longer and it were the

golden substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens

.

Fellaini, only five minutes in the field, knocked his huge afro against the cross from Kevin de Bruyne behind Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bholi: 1-1. In the 80th minute another substitute became match winner. Dries Mertens shot the ball hard in the roof of the goal: 2-1.

Matches & Standings Group H - World Cup 2014