Lukaku bags brace as Belgium beat Swiss

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Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku struck twice as Belgium maintained their strong start to the Nations League with a battling 2-1 win over Switzerland.

When Lukaku found the net with an angled drive on 58 minutes, it looked like Roberto Martinez's men would be giving French World Cup winner Thierry Henry a winning send-off in his final match as Belgium assistant coach ahead of an imminent move to Monaco.

The World Cup semi-finalists took their eye off the ball on 76 minutes, and the King Baudoin Stadium was stunned when Mario Gavranovic poked the ball past Thibaut Courtois from close range in after the Real Madrid 'keeper had been drawn by Nico Elvedi heading Xherdan Shaqiri's floated cross back into play.

But in a busy final period that saw the hosts turn the throttle Lukaku had his second six minutes from time.

Belgium's second win of the fledgling tournament keeps them flying high in League A Group 2 following an opening 3-0 win in Iceland.

wcup semifinal rematch

Rijeka: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic described a 0-0 Nations League draw with England in a World Cup semi-final rematch as a "sad" day for football as fans were banned from the clash in Rijeka.

Croatia were completing a UEFA sanction after a swastika symbol was carved into the pitch during a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy over three years ago.

"The atmosphere is not easy for anybody. It is sad for football but hopefully this is our last time," said Dalic.

"Football is played for the fans. It's sad the second and fourth team from the World Cup are playing behind closed doors. I don't know who it is good for."

In front of the empty stands, Marcus Rashford missed two glorious chances to exact England a small measure of revenge for missing out on the World Cup final to Croatia 93 days ago in Moscow.

Eric Dier and Harry Kane also hit the woodwork for the visitors, who enjoyed the better of a subdued game befitting of the bizarre atmosphere.

"It feels like a game we should have won," said England manager Gareth Southgate.

"We dictated the flow of the game for a long period. The second-half performance was excellent, we were pushing and pushing right to the end and on another day we would finish those chances."

However, a point does little for either side's hopes of usurping Spain, who beat both last month, to progress to the first ever Nations League semi-finals next summer.

Southgate threw on 18-year-old Jadon Sancho for his international debut 12 minutes from time in search of a winner.

The Borussia Dortmund wonder kid showed some impressive touches but couldn't provide a final spark as England had to settle for a point.

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