InterNationals: Lukaku scores twice as Belgium join Italy in the Final Four

MILAN – It was another big night of European football yesterday evening, with six Nerazzurri players taking to the pitch in the UEFA Nations League. Most notably, Romelu Lukaku bagged a brace in Belgium’s showdown against Eriksen’s Denmark. Italy, with Bastoni and Barella in their ranks, also shone: along with Belgium, they made it through to the Final Four of the competition, which is scheduled for October 2021.

BASTONI AND BARELLA PLAY FOR 90 MINUTES IN COMFORTABLE ITALY WIN

Italy, who were once again led by Alberico Evani with Roberto Mancini self-isolating at home, produced a convincing display as they ran out 2-0 winners against Bosnia in Sarajevo. In doing so, they progressed to the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League, where they'll be joined by Belgium, France and Spain. In the match at the Grbavica Stadium, Belotti and Berardi got on the scoresheet for the Azzurri. Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolò Barella started and played the full 90 minutes. Danilo D’Ambrosio, meanwhile, didn’t feature.

LUKAKU SCORES BRACE AS BELGIUM ALSO QUALIFY FOR THE FINAL FOUR

Belgium will be joining Italy in the Final Four after finishing top of Group 2. The Belgians ran out 4-2 winners against Denmark in Leuven in a match which pitted Romelu Lukaku against his Nerazzurri teammate Christian Eriksen. The Belgian striker took centre stage, winning a one-on-one battle with the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 and then finding the net with a fantastic header to extend his country’s lead (3-1) after the restart. Lukaku, who is Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer (57 goals in 89 appearances), has now bagged 17 goals in his last 14 matches for his National Team. Both he and Eriksen played for the duration of the match.

90 MINUTES FOR DE VRIJ WITH THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands emerged victorious in Poland but ultimately finished behind Italy in League A Group 1. Stefan de Vrij remained on the pitch throughout the comeback win, with second-half goals from Depay and Wijnaldum overturning Jozwiak’s opener at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów. The Netherlands won’t be involved in the Final Four following their second-place finish.

SKRINIAR’S SLOVAKIA SUFFER DEFEAT

Slovakia were beaten 2-0 by the Czech Republic, condemning them to a disappointing relegation to League C. Milan Skriniar played the full 90 minutes but wasn’t able to prevent Soucek and Ondrasek from scoring in League B Group 2.