Belgium secured wins in all three group games at a European Championship for the first time with a battling victory that left Finland’s hopes of qualifying for the last 16 in the balance.
The world’s number-one ranked side dominated proceedings in St Petersburg but only led through a late own goal from Finland keeper Lukas Hradecky, before Romelu Lukaku drilled a second.
Finland slipped from second in Group B to third by virtue of Denmark’s 4-1 win over Russia in Copenhagen and they must now wait to see whether they qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams. The Danes go on to face Wales on Saturday in Amsterdam.
In their first appearance at a major tournament, Finland looked resolute and on course for the knockout stages until Hradecky turned a Thomas Vermaelen header over his own line after it came back to him off the woodwork, but they now look vulnerable in third given their goal difference is -2.
Four third-placed teams will reach the knockout phase and two – Switzerland and Ukraine – already hold better records than the Finns, with three more groups to be completed.
Belgium’s win also means England, the Czech Republic, Sweden and France are guaranteed to progress even if they drop to third because they all have four points already.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Finland
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameHrádeckyAverage rating7.22
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Squad number22Player nameRaitalaAverage rating6.08
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Squad number4Player nameToivioAverage rating5.47
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Squad number2Player nameArajuuriAverage rating5.58
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Squad number3Player nameO’ShaughnessyAverage rating5.71
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Squad number18Player nameUronenAverage rating5.71
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Squad number8Player nameLodAverage rating5.55
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Squad number14Player nameSparvAverage rating6.04
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Squad number6Player nameKamaraAverage rating7.18
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Squad number10Player namePukkiAverage rating6.03
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Squad number20Player namePohjanpaloAverage rating5.72
Substitutes
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Squad number9Player nameJensenAverage rating5.24
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Squad number11Player nameSchüllerAverage rating4.84
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Squad number17Player nameAlhoAverage rating5.17
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Squad number19Player nameKaukoAverage rating4.87
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Squad number26Player nameForssAverage rating5.17
Belgium
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameCourtoisAverage rating6.62
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Squad number18Player nameDenayerAverage rating6.80
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Squad number4Player nameBoyataAverage rating6.72
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Squad number3Player nameVermaelenAverage rating6.92
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Squad number24Player nameTrossardAverage rating7.18
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Squad number7Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating8.02
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Squad number6Player nameWitselAverage rating6.96
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Squad number22Player nameChadliAverage rating6.74
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Squad number25Player nameDokuAverage rating7.48
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Squad number10Player nameE HazardAverage rating6.88
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Squad number9Player nameLukakuAverage rating7.51
Substitutes
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Squad number15Player nameMeunierAverage rating6.66
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Squad number17Player nameVanakenAverage rating6.58
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Squad number20Player nameBentekeAverage rating6.51
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Squad number23Player nameBatshuayiAverage rating6.62
Line-ups
Finland
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Hrádecky
- 22Raitala
- 4Toivio
- 2Arajuuri
- 3O’Shaughnessy
- 18UronenSubstituted forAlhoat 70′minutes
- 8LodSubstituted forForssat 90+1′minutes
- 14SparvSubstituted forSchüllerat 59′minutes
- 6Kamara
- 10PukkiSubstituted forJensenat 90+1′minutes
- 20PohjanpaloSubstituted forKaukoat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Väisänen
- 7Taylor
- 9Jensen
- 11Schüller
- 12Joronen
- 13Soiri
- 17Alho
- 19Kauko
- 23Jaakkola
- 24Valakari
- 25Ivanov
- 26Forss
Belgium
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Courtois
- 18Denayer
- 4Boyata
- 3Vermaelen
- 24TrossardSubstituted forMeunierat 75′minutes
- 7De BruyneSubstituted forVanakenat 90+1′minutes
- 6Witsel
- 22Chadli
- 25DokuSubstituted forBatshuayiat 76′minutes
- 10E Hazard
- 9LukakuSubstituted forBentekeat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Vertonghen
- 8Tielemans
- 11Carrasco
- 12Mignolet
- 13Sels
- 14Mertens
- 15Meunier
- 17Vanaken
- 19Dendoncker
- 20Benteke
- 23Batshuayi
- 26Praet
- Referee:
- Dr. Felix Brych
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Finland 0, Belgium 2.
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Second Half ends, Finland 0, Belgium 2.
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Corner, Finland. Conceded by Thomas Meunier.
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Substitution, Finland. Fredrik Jensen replaces Teemu Pukki.
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Substitution, Finland. Marcus Forss replaces Robin Lod.
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Substitution, Belgium. Hans Vanaken replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
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Nacer Chadli (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Teemu Pukki (Finland).
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Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Belgium) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne following a fast break.
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Attempt blocked. Nikolai Alho (Finland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Substitution, Belgium. Christian Benteke replaces Romelu Lukaku.
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Foul by Michy Batshuayi (Belgium).
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Joni Kauko (Finland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Goal! Finland 0, Belgium 2. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
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Attempt missed. Robin Lod (Finland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Teemu Pukki.
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Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Robin Lod (Finland).
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Attempt blocked. Teemu Pukki (Finland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Robin Lod.
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Foul by Michy Batshuayi (Belgium).
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Joni Kauko (Finland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
