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(England 2-1 Belgium) England’s impressive statistics against Belgium were scratched with two World Cup defeats two years ago. Tonight they took revenge.
However, tonight started terribly wrong in the Nations League match at an empty Wembley. Belgium took command from the beginning.
Romelu Lukaku did not take many minutes to appear when he returned to English soil. The former Manchester United striker took Eric Dier on a run when the fourth was played.
Dier stayed behind and Lukaku was sent off. The 27-year-old took the penalty himself and didn’t look up before putting the ball into the goal behind goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
It was Lukaku’s 53rd goal for the national team in 86 games.
MATCH WINNER: Mason Mount (center) applauds after scoring England’s 2-1 goal against Belgium. Kieran Trippier (right) and Jordan Henderson (back) come to celebrate. Photo: NEIL HALL / AFP
New grief
Belgium had control over most things in the first place. That is not to say that Thomas Meunier kept Jordan Henderson in a corner in the 38th minute. Judge Tobias Stieler agreed with the attitude and sentenced him.
He put Marcus Rashford in goal. He did like his former teammate at Manchester United and sent the goalkeeper to a corner and the ball to the other.
In the second half, it was a much better home team that prevailed from the start. They got the reward after just over an hour of play.
Mason Mount, almost invisible for the first 45 minutes, sent a shot that went through Thomas Meunier’s foot and went over a hopeless Simon Mignolet in Belgium’s goal.
– It was special to score my first goal at Wembley. The shot changed direction, but it didn’t matter. Goals are goals, Mason Mount told Sky Sports.
This was England’s 20th home win in 21 games and with a 67-10 goal difference, according to Opta. Belgium must start over. They had won their last 12 matches before the winning streak was stopped at Wembley tonight.
P.S! England will face Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday, while Belgium will go to Iceland.
