Paris: Belgium became the first team to qualify for the 2020 European Championship finals as Romelu Lukaku scored twice in a 9-0 thrashing of San Marino in Brussels on Thursday, while the Netherlands needed a late comeback to beat Northern Ireland.

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Lukaku took his record Belgium international tally past 50 goals as Roberto Martinez’s Group I leaders opened up an unassailable 11-point lead over third-placed Cyprus with three games remaining.

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The world No. 1 ranked side booked their spot at next year’s tournament, which will be played at 12 venues across Europe, after seven straight qualifying wins.

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Russia appear set to take the second automatic slot from the group, after a 4-0 win over Scotland moved them eight points ahead of Cyprus.

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Belgium will be one of the favourites as they look to lift a first major international title when the Euros get under way on June 12.

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Their victory at the King Badouin Stadium matched their record winning margin of nine goals, having previously beaten Zambia and Gibraltar 9-0 in 1994 and 2017 respectively and hammered San Marino 10-1 in 2001.

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Belgium were forced to wait until the 28th minute for the initial breakthrough on Thursday, which arrived when Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans fed Lukaku, who fired home his landmark goal.

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The floodgates then opened, as Nacer Chadli slotted into the corner from the edge of the area three minutes later, and visiting defender Cristian Brolli scored a comical own goal 10 minutes before the interval.

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Lukaku wasted little time in making it 51 Belgium goals with a low, right-footed effort, before Toby Alderweireld’s deflected strike and Tielemans’ drive made it six before half-time.

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Substitute Christian Benteke drilled in No. 7 with 11 minutes remaining, 18-year-old Yari Verschaeren scored his first international goal from the penalty spot, and Atalanta defender Timothy Castagne completed the rout in the 90th minute.

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Memphis Depay’s late brace rescued the Netherlands a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland which sent Ronald Koeman’s men top of Group C.

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The Oranje, bidding to reach a first major finals since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup, are level on points with both Germany and Northern Ireland, who have played a game more, but lead on head-to-head record.

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Michael O’Neill’s visitors were dreaming of a first-ever away win over the Dutch when substitute Josh Magennis headed them in front with a quarter-hour to play.

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But Depay levelled in the 80th minute, and Luuk de Jong bundled the ball home at the back post in the first minute of injury time to deny Northern Ireland a crucial point before Depay grabbed his second.

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Russia sent Scotland tumbling to a fourth straight qualifying defeat which leaves the Nations League playoffs next March as the Scots’ only possible route to Euro 2020.

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Artem Dzyuba’s excellent double and goals from Magomed Ozdoev and Aleksandr Golovin mean Russia will qualify with victory in Cyprus on Sunday.

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Earlier on Thursday, the Cypriots kept their faint hopes alive with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Kazakhstan.

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Croatia took control of Group E by beating Hungary 3-0 in Split, while Slovakia jumped into second despite being held to a 1-1 home draw by Wales.

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Luka Modric’s fifth-minute strike and two goals for Bruno Petkovic sent last year’s World Cup runners-up Croatia four points clear of third-placed Hungary.

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Slovakia fell behind in the first half when former lifeguard Kieffer Moore scored on his international competitive debut for Wales, but secured a draw thanks to Juraj Kucka’s brilliant 53rd-minute volley.

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Elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski netted a hat-trick, taking his tally this season to 18 goals for club and country, as Poland won 3-0 at Latvia to strengthen their position at the top of Group G.

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They sit three points clear of closest challengers Austria, who saw off Israel 3-1, while North Macedonia are two points further back after a 2-1 victory against Slovenia.

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Results

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(Played on Thursday)

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Belarus 0 Estonia 0

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Netherlands 3 Northern Ireland 1

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Slovakia 1 Wales 1

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Croatia 3 Hungary 0

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Latvia 0 Poland 3

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North Macedonia 2 Slovenia 1

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Austria 3 Israel 1

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Russia 4 Scotland 0

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Belgium 9 San Marino 0

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Kazakhstan 1 Cyprus 2

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The Morning and Evening Brief###

The Morning and Evening Brief