Belgium 4-2 Denmark
Belgium are through to the UEFA Nations League finals after a second-half brace from Romelu Lukaku saw off a spirited Denmark challenge.
The clash between Belgium and Denmark was a battle for the top spot in Group A2 with the hosts two points ahead, but the Red Devils were wary going into the game with a painful memory of what happened to them the last time they were in this position. In the inaugural Nations League, they just needed a draw against Switzerland in the final group game but, after going 2-0 up, they eventually lost 5-2 as Haris Seferovic scored a stunning hat-trick.
But there was no slip up this time.
The Danes arrived in Belgium with a chance of winning the group largely thanks to an impressive victory over England last month. But after they put up a great fight in the first half, Lukaku’s second-half assault ended a brave challenge.
Highlights of the game
The big UEFA Nations League 2020 news in the run up to the match surrounded the fitness of goal-keeper Kasper Schmeichel, who received a head injury in Denmark’s 2-1 victory over Iceland. The Leicester City stopper recovered to take his place, but the first thing he had to do was pick the ball up out of his own net. When it broke for his club team-mate Youri Tielemans he fired a low 20-yard shot into the bottom right corner beyond Schmeichel’s despairing dive.
It was just the start head coach Roberto Martinez wanted and Belgium went in search of a second, but they were hit against the run of play when Jonas Wind headed home the equaliser. There was an element of luck about the goal as Martin Braithwaite’s shot was deflected up into his path, but the 21-year-old made no mistake with his well-aimed header. It was his second international goal in four appearances and this was his first start; so what a moment for the young man, and Denmark were back in the game.
The Danes almost went ahead when Braithwaite found himself through on goal but Thibaut Courtois made himself big and saved. Then, Romelu Lukaku was a whisker away with a header when Kevin de Bruyne sent over the perfect cross. Just before half time, Christian Eriksen got round the Belgian defence and crossed agonizingly beyond the reach of Yussuf Poulsen.
The pre-match UEFA Nations League 2020 betting odds here at SBOTOP had the Red Devils at 1.61 to win, but the visitors had matched them to go level at the break.
Dries Mertens scored a well-struck free-kick in Belgium’s victory over England, but the Napoli man had been anonymous in the first half and his first contribution to the second was to pick up a yellow card for a nasty foul on Poulsen. There was a better contribution from Romelu Lukaku minutes later when De Bruyne put him through and, despite Schmeichel getting a hand to his shot, it looped up and into the net.
Eriksen fired in a low shot which was blocked by desperate Belgian defending as Denmark searched for a second equaliser, but they were undone again by Lukaku when Thorgan Hazard crossed and he headed home his fifth goal in five games.
There was a moment of hope for Denmark when Belgium, the world’s number one team, gave away a comical own goal, Nacer Chadli’s back pass from wide on the left wing squirming under Courtois’ foot and into the net. But order was restored by De Bruyne who slammed home Belgium’s fourth to seal the win.
Key statistics
Both teams came into the game in great form and, in the first half, after Belgium came out of the blocks at lightning speed, the Danes steadied themselves and worked their way back into the match, each side finishing the half with two shots on target.
But in the second half, Lukaku was the difference as Belgium had five to three on target, four of which beat Schmeichel.
The victory is Belgium’s fourth on the bounce, their 25th match unbeaten at home and the 25th consecutive game in which they have scored, and it was all the more impressive because it ended a six-match unbeaten run for the Danes.
What’s next?
Belgium head off to their second UEFA Nations League finals to join France and Spain, who hammered Germany 6-0 last night, as well as Italy, after the Azzurri ended up top of a very competitive group A1, seeing off Poland and the Netherlands in a three-way battle which went down to the wire.
Domestic football returns in the meantime, and the two most creative midfielders we watched tonight, one from each side, return to their clubs with plenty of work to do. Christian Eriksen has to prove to Antonio Conte, his head coach at Inter Milan, that he is worthy of a start having fallen out of favour. Rumours of a move back to England have already begun to circulate with Arsenal mentioned in the Italian press.
Meanwhile, Kevin de Bruyne’s side, Manchester City, has something to prove having capitulated in last season’s title race. The Sky Blues continue their challenge for the 2020/21 Premier League with a trip to Spurs. Pep Guardiola has an array of talent to select from, but De Bruyne is the man who can bring the trophy back to the Etihad.
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