Rampant Belgium earns a place in next year’s European Championship

Belgium scored six goals by halftime and make a biggest margin of victory, becoming 1st team to qualify for Euro 2020.

Matching the record-tying victory in its history, crushing San Marino 9-0 on Thursday, the world’s top-ranked soccer country Belgium became the first team to qualify for the continent-wide tournament Euro 2020. It was 6-0 in the first-half in Brussels, of which striker Romelu Lukaku scored two of the goals and pass 50 internationally. Three goals later also gived the Netherlands’ chances for being at Euro 2020.

The Belgians spare three qualifiers which guaranteed a top-two finish and stay in control of the summit at Group I.

The Netherlands didn’t have it so easy. They beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in the Dutch stronghold of Rotterdam, scoring three goals from the 80th minute to come from behind with two of those late goals scored by Memphis Depay.

The two teams get 12 points and own a three-way tie on Germany in Group C. But The Northern Irish team have one more game to play and they will be against the Dutch and the Germans for their remaining two qualifiers.

Both Poland and Croatia won 3-0, respectively against Latvia and Hungary, to consolidated their place at their groups.

They scored six goals in the final 17 minutes of the first half, with an own-goal from Cristian Brolli. Also, Nacer Chadli, Youri Tielemans and Toby Alderweireld combining Lukaku in finding the back of the net.

Russia stays eight points clear of Cyprus in second place by beating Scotland 4-0 at home and looks almost certain to join Belgium in advancing from the group. Russia needs only a point to qualify and on Sunday the result will show in their away to Cyprus.

Croatia, the World Cup runner up in 2018, beating Hungary 3-0 thanks to two goals by Bruno Petkovic and a fifth-minute opener by Luka Modric and led three-point in Group E.