It is a long time since a Roberto Martinez side has been applauded off the field quite like this.
By the end of his reign at Everton, the best he could hope for was mild indifference from the locals and on some of those particularly uncomfortable days at Goodison Park, the tenor from the terraces became rather more unpleasant.
Indeed, only last month during his first match in charge of Belgium, there were groans to greet both the half-time and full-time whistle of a comprehensive 2-0 defeat by Spain.
So this was an evening to celebrate for the Spanish manager. In truth, there has been a lukewarm reception to his appointment in Belgium but this was a reminder of all that Martinez wants his teams to be.
This was a performance of glorious attacking expression, a couple of truly wonderful goals and perhaps most pleasingly for Martinez, utter dominance in possession. His critics may also take note of the clean sheet that accompanied a sparkling attacking display. There was political savvy, too, substituting his headline acts Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard late on so the forward pair could enjoy their own ovation from the home support after scoring a goal apiece.
This was the best of Hazard, offering a showreel of all he can do when the mood takes him. Feeling that his player needed a change of direction, Martinez has recast him as a No 10, liberating him from his usual wide position.
When Kevin De Bruyne returns from injury, the plan is for the two dovetail, as they trailed effectively in the previous qualifier in Cyprus. Still, Hazard makes a fine showman even without De Bruyne and his display here was so eye-catching that you do wonder if Antonio Conte may take heed and follow this lead for Chelsea.
This was the Hazard of two seasons ago, with his purpose, balance and composure restored. At times, his close control took the breath away and he was dazzling with the kind of dribbling that conjures images of children playing with abandon on the school playground.
True, Bosnia were generous opponents, their defending edging into the realms of slapstick on more than one occasion but they are a handy international side. The line up featured established players such as Asmir Begovic, Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko and Bosnia had only lost three of their previous fift
This victory was a second consecutive success for Belgium following a handsome win in Cyprus and with opponents such as Greece, Gibraltar and Estonia awaiting, Martinez will know one of their most difficult tests has already been overcome on their route to the World Cup.
The Balkan side actually started the brighter of the two sides and it was they who had the clearest opening during the early exchanges. Senad Lulic was found in space down the right flank and his cross was headed clear by the Belgian defence to forward Haris Medunjanin, who set himself on the edge of the box before firing over.
That, however, was as good as things would get. Belgium had made a slightly frenetic start to proceedings but the goal that arrived shortly before the half-hour mark settled them down.
Hazard darted across the centre of the pitch, laying the ball off to full-back Thomas Meunier. The PSG defender's low cross was deflected and then it became a horror story for the Bosnia defender Emir Spahic. His attempt at a volleyed clearance resulted in a mistimed shank, which sent the ball spinning into his own goal. It was an awful error but it was, at least, a very handsome impression indeed of the own goal scored by Manchester City's Aleksandar Kolarov at White Hart Lane last weekend.
Two minutes later, a second goal and this time it owed far more to the ingenuity of the Belgium frontline. Dries Mertens drifted across from the right side, sliding a pass through for Hazard. The Belgian captain scuttled through, dribbling at pace beyond his Chelsea team-mate Asmir Begovic and slotting the ball in.
More chances came and went. Jan Vertonghen curled a strike narrowly over and Meunier then fizzed a ball across goal but the ball skipped off the surface at the far post and Yannick Carrasco's control eluded him.
Carrasco then played a sublime reverse ball into the path of Mertens, whose low ball across the goal was intercepted by Begovic.
Shortly after half-time, the third goal arrived, as Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld emphasised the cavalier nature of this Belgium display with an impudent back-heel to turn in Merten's set-piece.
A few minutes later, however, a miss. And this was not just any miss but the big daddy to end all misses. Carrasco had broken the Bosnia backline, speeding through on goal and bearing down on Begovic. He opened up his body, teeing up Romelu Lukaku who had an open goal awaiting. The Everton leaned back and somehow, someway, sidefooted over the bar.
Daily Mail
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