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Belgium scored twice in the first half to beat England 2-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday night.
Youri Tielemans dismissed the hosts up front within 10 minutes with a low line that took a slight detour to beat Jordan Pickford in the England goal.
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Belgium went clear twice midway through the first half with a spectacular free kick from Dries Mertens that went over the wall before passing Pickford at the near post.
England needed a win to get back into the frame of a place in the Nations League final, but Gareth Southgate’s team found themselves chasing the game after Tielemans put the hosts in front after 10 minutes.
England looked more dangerous in the second half but failed to make either free throws just outside the box and Harry Kane saw a good opportunity 15 meters away from Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Roberto Martinez’s Belgium held out with few real alarms after that against an unimaginative England and must now avoid defeat on Wednesday against Denmark, who beat Iceland 2-1, to finish at the top of the group.
“We got the initial advantage, then we had to suffer and see the press and the risks that England took,” Martinez said.
“We were always in control at 2-0, sometimes it can be dangerous, you feel comfortable but we defended Thibaut Courtois’ goal very well.”
England were the architects of their own ruin.
After 10 minutes, a casual pass from Eric Dier’s back was stopped by Belgium and when the ball was passed to Romelu Lukaku, he squared Tielemans.
The Leicester City player’s shot was well hit, but missed Tyrone Mings’ leg and, although goalkeeper Pickford hit it with the tips of his fingers, the ball went off the post.
Jack Grealish came close to an immediate response from England when he hit a low cross from Kieran Trippier, but Toby Alderweireld did well to block.
Belgium’s second goal came from a hard-earned free kick against Declan Rice on Kevin De Bruyne.
However, there was no question about the quality of Mertens’ shot as he curled the ball over the wall and into the post.
Harry Winks replaced Jordan Henderson after halftime for England, who did not feature the injured Raheem Sterling, but didn’t make much of a difference to his power.
The bright spot for England was Grealish, who followed up his excellent performance in a 3-0 friendly win against Ireland this week with another show of confidence.
The loss was Southgate’s 10th while in charge of England in 48 games, but Captain Kane felt England was unlucky.
“We were dominant. We were unlucky enough to concede both goals,” he said. “A detour and I don’t think the second was a free kick. There are a lot of positives to take advantage of.
“I think Jack Grealish had an absolutely outstanding game,” Southgate said. “Losing Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, we lose a lot of speed. But I can’t fault the attacking game until the last chance.”
“We created a lot more opportunities than we did at Wembley. I saw what I knew I would see from Jack, someone with the courage to play. He took the ball in tight areas, his technique was good, we knew he would buy a lot of free kicks.
“He played with a lot of faith and character.”
A second straight loss for England, after a home loss to Denmark, left them in third place in the group with a home game against Iceland next week.
The result means that Belgium has secured a spot in the Nations League final.
