Dutch trash Belgium after Lukaku injury
Key takeaways:
- The Netherlands and Belgium are in a Nations League group with Wales and Poland.
- The Netherlands started their Nations League campaign with a dominant victory against a dire Belgium, losing Romelu Lukaku to injury.
Memphis Depay was the Dutch megastar, netting two superbly taken close-range goals in the rout in Brussels.
Tottenham's Steven Bergwijn was also on the mark, scoring a long-range opener, with Denzel Dumfries scoring the other via a close-range tap-in.
Michy Batshuayi led a relief for Belgium in added time.
It was a frustrating evening for the Red Devils, with Timothy Castagne hitting the post with a rising attempt with the score at 0-0. The Leicester player also saw VAR cancel a goal after Batshuayi was spotted offside in the build-up.
Dries Mertens also hit the bar with an angled hit late in the match for Roberto Martinez's squad.
Anything but a stunning victory would have been the scant prize for a superb display from the hard-working, skillful Netherlands team.
The win extends Dutch boss Louis van Gaal's undefeated beginning to his second spell as Dutch manager to 10 games.
Brilliant Dutch send threatening sign
The Netherlands is looking to make up for a lost time, having failed to prepare for the 2018 World Cup and lost in the previous eight of Euro 2020.