The striker has bagged a brace in both his games at the World Cup to join Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scoring charts. He now has 17 goals in his last 11 international games.

Eden Hazard hit two of his own in Moscow, and sub Michy Batshuayi made it five.

Belgium are effectively through to the round of 16 - it will become a mathematical certainty so long as England avoid an unfathomable defeat against Panama tomorrow.

In 30° heat, the Red Devils wasted no time in setting to work at Spartak Stadium.

Syam Ben Youssef felled Hazard and after a bit of VAR deliberation as to whether the offence occurred inside or outside the box, the Chelsea winger stepped up to cooly slot away the opener from the penalty spot (6').

Lukaku sprinted through to double the lead (16') before a swift response from Tunisia, as Dylan Bronn, who plays his club football for Gent in Belgium's Eerste Divisie, nodded past Thibaut Courtois from Wahbi Khazri's free-kick (18').

The emboldened North Africans began to forge a few openings in search of an equaliser, but their hopes of a fightback were dashed on the stroke of half-time, when Lukaku again found space to charge into and roll his shot neatly beyond the onrushing Farouk Ben Mustaha (45+3').

Hazard produced an excellent bit of technique to score the fourth (51').

Belgium v Tunisia player ratings


Such was the extent of Belgium's grip on the game at this point that head coach Roberto Martinez saw fit to withdraw both goal scorers early, with the final group game against England in mind.

Hazard's replacement, Batshuayi, had three separate chances to extend the lead immediately after his introduction but was frustrated first by a goal-line clearance, then the crossbar, and finally a point-blank save from Ben Mustapha.

It was fourth time lucky as he slid in at the back stick to convert a cross from fellow sub Youri Tielemans (90'), before Khazri netted in stoppage time (90+3')

Belgium's match against the Three Lions on Friday morning AEST will decide which team finishes first and second in the group. Tunisia will take on Panama at the same time, seeking merely to take some positive memories home with them.