England vs Belgium. UEFA Nations League Group A2.
Wembley Stadium.
Free match highlights as England top Group A2 by a point after win; Marcus Rashford penalty cancels out Romelu Lukaku opener from the spot, before Mason Mount's deflected effort gives Gareth Southgate's side impressive victory
Monday 12 October 2020 06:53, UK
England moved top of their Nations League group after coming from behind to battle past Belgium 2-1 at Wembley with an impressive second-half display.
Belgium took the lead after Eric Dier's misjudged challenge in the box on Romelu Lukaku allowed the former Everton and Manchester United man to slot home a penalty (16), but England levelled against the run of play with their own Marcus Rashford penalty after Thomas Meunier had pulled back Jordan Henderson at a corner (39).
England improved drastically after the break and took the lead as Mason Mount's effort deflected off Toby Alderweireld and into the top corner (64), and though Yannick Carrasco missed a clear chance to level, England too could have extended their lead through sub Harry Kane and Rashford, both directing big chances wide.
The result means England leapfrog the world's top-ranked side into top spot in UEFA Nations League Group A2, leading by a single point after three games, as Gareth Southgate's side prepare to host Denmark on Wednesday at Wembley again.
England looked uncomfortable for large parts of the first half, as Belgium showed glimpses of why they are still world No 1. Carrasco saw his low effort from 12 yards ruled out for an offside on Timothy Castagne, who was in the line of vision of Jordan Pickford, but Belgium were soon ahead when Dier mistimed his tackle on Lukaku in the area.
Lukaku, a menace for England in the first half, dusted himself off to slot the penalty past Pickford.
England lacked rhythm and were forced to play in front of Belgium - their first shot on target in the 31st minute was their longest wait in a home game since November 2011 - but they got back on level terms thanks to a silly tug from Meunier on Henderson in the penalty area from one of a flurry of England corners.
A risky move, even without VAR, as German referee Tobias Stieler confidently pointed to the spot, and Rashford placed his spot kick into the top left corner, rounding off a superb week after being awarded an MBE.
Belgium should have gone into half-time ahead as Lukaku's back-heeled through ball found Carrasco through on goal at a slight angle, but he lashed his effort horribly wide of Pickford's right-hand post.
England then cut off the supply to Lukaku in the second half, getting more compact in midfield, and started to dictate the play in Belgium's half before going ahead just after the hour mark.
Found inside the box by Kieran Tripper's header back, Mount found a yard to shoot right-footed, and was helped by a big deflection off the boot of Alderweireld, sending the ball looping over Simon Mignolet.
De Bruyne, who had up to that point looked below his average, then sent Carrasco through on goal at the blink of an eye with a superb through ball, but the forward touched wide at the far post after opening his body up.
England weren't exactly holding on late on and could have extended their lead; first sub Kane glanced wide unmarked from a Trippier corner, before Rashford then lashed inches over after finding space in the box as Belgium kept men forward.
Belgium had a sloppy England on the rack in the first half, but Southgate's side showed their defiant side after the break to claim an impressive and vital three points, their first win over major opposition since beating Croatia in November 2018 in the Nations League.
England manager Gareth Southgate on Sky Sports:
"In the second half, you have to be perfect against these teams without the ball, and bar the one brilliant pass from De Bruyne, we were so compact, our covering positions were good. Trippier was like a soldier out there; unbelievable defensive performance.
"But right through the team in that second half, you have to suffer to win these big games, and they did that. To respond in the way we did, to ride that storm, was really impressive, and the players should take a lot of heart from it.
"We've got loads we can get better at. We're not carried away by this win, we've got to back it up against Denmark first and foremost. We know the quality of Belgium today is the level we have to aspire to on a regular basis.
"These are games of concentration and games of detail, and for our guys to come through that was a big moment for them."
Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports:
"It wasn't perfect in the first half, but to beat a team of Belgium's quality is exactly what you want as a team. It wasn't the perfect performance but when you look at the players we haven't got playing - you've got to bring Chilwell back into the equation, Kane and Sancho came on...
"All in all for Gareth, there will be bits he wants to tinker with but he'll be so happy with that second-half performance in what was a huge win for England. There's no downside to beating a team like Belgium, who are the No 1 side in the world right now."
England continue their Nations League campaign with another Group A2 game at home to Denmark, live on Sky Sports Premier League HD from 7pm on Wednesday, with kick-off at 7.45pm. Belgium, meanwhile, are away to Iceland, with kick-off also at 7.45pm on Wednesday. You can watch that game live on the red button.
