Lukaku, Hazard help Belgium hammer Scotland

GLASGOW : World Cup semi-finalists Belgium capitalised on a series of Scotland mistakes with goals from Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and a Michy Batshuayi double to thrash the hosts 4-0 in a friendly at Hampden on Friday. Roberto Martinez’s men showed their class and no hangover from their exertions in finishing third in Russia to warm-up for their Nations League opener against Iceland on Tuesday.

However, the visitors were handed a series of gifts by a Scotland side that slumped to a fourth defeat in five games since manager Alex Mcleish was appointed for a second spell in charge.

“We were very clinical in front of goal,” said Martinez.

The contrasting fortunes of the two nations was summed up by Belgium playing to a crowd less than that which celebrated their return from Russia in July at a barely half-full Hampden.

But it took a gift from Aston Villa’s John Mcginn to get the visitors going when the midfielder was caught in possession on the edge of his own box and Mousa Dembele and Thorgan Hazard teed up Lukaku for his 41st international goal.

Eden Hazard smashed home Belgium’s second a minute into the second-half, but again Mcleish might have been disappointed to see goalkeeper Craig Gordon beaten at his near post.

JORGINHO GRABS POINT FOR ITALY

BOLOGNA,ITALY:ROBERTO Mancini’s first competitive game as Italy coach ended in a 1-1 draw with Poland, midfielder Jorginho saving Azzurri blushes with a second-half penalty to level Piotr Zielinski’s first-half opener in Bologna on Friday.

Mancini, 58, was appointed after the four-time winners’ shock failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup for the first time since 1958. And the former Manchester City boss admitted there was work to do.

Italy pushed for the winner but had to settle for a point before their trip to Lisbon where they will be playing a Portugal side missing Cristiano Ronaldo. Poland will play their next matches on October 11 against

Portugal and on October 14 .

BALOTELLI IN DOUBT FOR PORTUGAL GAME

MILAN: Mario Balotelli is in doubt to play Italy’s second Nations League game against Portugal in Lisbon on Monday, according to press reports on Saturday.

Balotelli limped off after an hour before Chelsea midfielder Jorginho rescued a point for the Azzurri in Bologna.

And the 28-year-old forward did not take part in a full training session on Saturday after undergoing tests

RESULTS:

Italy 1 drew with Poland 1; Turkey 1 lost to Russia 2 ; Albania 1 bt Israel 0;

Lituania 0 lost to Serbia 1 ; Romania 0 drew with Montenegro 0 .