TEAMS:
Belgium: Courtois; Meunier, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Dembélé, Witsel; De Bruyne, Carrasco, Hazard; Lukaku
Subs: Nainggolan, Fellaini, Mignolet, Gillet, Mertens, Denayer, Origi, Benteke, Kabasele, J Lukaku, Batshuayi, Ciman
Ireland: Randolph; Coleman, Clark, O’Shea, Ward; Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy, Brady; Hoolahan; Long
Subs: Westwood, Keogh, McGeady, Keane, McClean, Duffy, Walters, Christie, Given, Meyler, Murphy, Quinn
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (TUR)
GOAL! Belgium 1-0 Ireland (Lukaku 48)
That’s how to atone for a terrible performance against Italy! Lukaku receives the ball at the edge of the area from De Bruyne following a rapid Belgian counter-attack, and the striker takes one touch and strokes it expertly past Randolph and into the bottom corner. It only took seconds for the non-award of a penalty at one end to become even more sickening for the Irish
GOAL! Belgium 2-0 Ireland (61)
That surely secures victory for Belgium and it’s frustratingly easy from an Irish viewpoint. After a steady move, Meunier swept in a ball from the right wing and Witsel ran on to it from deep as Irish defenders dozed. Randolph couldn’t stop the powerful downward header.
GOAL! Belgium 3-0 Ireland (Lukaku 70)
That’s torn it. Clark dives in for a ball he;s never going to win. Hazard scurries down the right and centres for the unmarked Lukaku, who sidefoots calmly into the net from 12 yards.
Full-time: Belgium 3-0 Ireland
The better teams won, no doubt about that. Belgium will certainly meet better teams than Ireland - though not necessarily next week, when they take on Sweden - and Marc Wilmots should not think that all their problems are resolved, but at least a comprehensive victory will lift the mood in his squad a little, especially that of Lukaku, who took his two goals well in the wake of a dire performance against Italy. The Italians are Ireland’s next opponents and, having already qualified, will field a weakened team. But Ireland will still have to improve significantly to beat them. Long needs better service from a midfield that looked dispiritingly limited today. And Keogh should come in for Clark at the back.
