Belgium book a Euro place

– Belgium became the first side through to the Euro 2020 finals after thrashing San Marino 9-0 on Thursday with Romelu Lukaku (above) scoring his 50th and 51st international goals.

Unbeaten Belgium have 21 points from seven games, with only one goal conceded, while Russia have 18 and Cyprus, 2-1 winners over Kazakhstan in Astana, are on 10. The top two qualify directly.

San Marino managed to keep a clean sheet for 27 minutes against the 2018 World Cup semi-inalists before, as expected, the floodgates opened at Brussels’s King Baudouin stadium and the goals poured in for Roberto Martinez’s side.

Inter Milan striker Lukaku became the first Belgian to reach a half-century of international goals with a right-footed shot to open the scoring.

He set up Nacer Chadli three minutes later before an owngoal from Cristian Brolli put Belgium 3-0 up in the 35th. Lukaku grabbed his second on 41 minutes assisted by Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard.

“It’s nice to be so good in the national team, but at the end of the day I want to win a trophy with Belgium,” Lukaku told Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

A deflected Toby Alderweireld effort in the 43rd minute and a Youri Tielemens shot in stoppagetime saw Belgium cruise in 6-0 up at the break.

The pace slowed before Christian Benteke broke his three-year international drought for Roberto Martinez’s side by coming off the bench to score three minutes later, in the 79th, by wrong-footing the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Yari Verschaeren, 18, came off the bench to score his first senior goal from the penalty spot to make it 8-0 in the 84th and Timothy Castagne rounded off the tally in the 90th minute.

“We wanted the 10th but we didn’t get it unfortunately,” said Hazard.

“We started well, we had some chances and could have scored sooner. But we know that in this kind of game you have to be patient.” – Reuters

Brussels

It’s nice to be so good in the national team, but at the end of the day I want to win a trophy with Belgium.

Romelu Lukaku