Belgium secured top spot in Group B after Dries Mertens made up for a howling first-half miss to score and set up another in their 3-1 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Israel on Tuesday.
The win means Belgium are also set to rise to No 1 in FIFA’s volatile ranking system, while Israel’s hopes of reaching the tournament in France next year were ended.
Belgium had already qualified after a 4-1 victory over Andorra on Saturday and Tuesday’s win kept them two points clear of Wales in the standings.
The Red Devils had the lion’s share of possession throughout the match and would have been ahead at half-time but for a spectacular miss from Mertens. Faced with an open goal two metres out, he somehow shot wide.
In the 64th minute, however, he made amends, taking a pass from Kevin De Bruyne and shifting right to bypass the defence and drive low past Israel keeper Ofir Marciano.
De Bruyne’s dipping and bouncing free-kick was also too much for Marciano in the 78th minute and Mertens was on hand again six minutes later to find an unmarked Eden Hazard in front of goal for an easy finish.
