Finland finish third despite losing to Belgium

Belgium have beaten Finland 2-0 to finish top of Group B with a 100% record.

Finland held the world’s top-ranked side for 74 minutes before an unlucky own goal by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky before Romelu Lukaku completed the scoring.

Denmark defeated Russia 4-1 in the other group game for all three teams to finish on three points.

It is the Danes that go through as group runners up on goal difference and Finland will now need to wait to find out whether they will progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

Roberto Martinez made eight changes to the Belgium line-up but were still able to dominate the match.

Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel could have given Belgium the lead in the first half but good work from Hradecky kept the score level.

Eden Hazard was in the starting line-up for the first time in the tournament after an injury and he could have opened the scoring twice but again Hradecky kept it goalless.

The breakthrough did finally come when a corner was headed onto the post by Thomas Vermaelen before deflecting off Hradecky into the net.

And Lukaku finished the scoring late on with a superb strike into the bottom right corner after some great work from De Bruyne.

Cover Photo: “File:Bel-Tun (7).jpg” by Дмитрий Садовников is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0