Kevin De Bruyne helped Belgium defeat Sweden 3-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying.
De Bruyne, new skipper for the Red Devils following the international retirement of Eden Hazard, played the full 90 minutes of the Group F encounter.
Romelu Lukaku scored the all-important hat-trick at Friends Arena in Solna.
His first on 35 minutes was a header from a pinpoint curling delivery by Hertha Berlin forward Dodi Lukebakio. His second, on 49 minutes, saw De Bruyne’s short corner find Lukebakio, who showed his pace to reach the byline before passing to Lukaku who prodded home.
The Inter Milan forward scored his third on 83 minutes following an assist by Tiémoué Bakayoko, making his first appearance for Domenico Tedesco’s team.
Nathan Ake, meanwhile, was on the losing side in his Euro 2024 qualifying clash against France.
Ake played 90 minutes as the World Cup runners-up ran out 4-0 victors in the Group B encounter at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
Antoine Griezmann, Dayot Upamecano and Kylian Mbappe (2) scored the goals to ensure three points for Didier Deschamps side.
Griezmann swept a low finish past Jasper Cillessen on two minutes, Upamecano doubled the lead on eight minutes as he fired home after the keeper had palmed the ball to him from Griezmann’s free-kick from the right before skipper Mbappe scored his 37th international goal on 21 minutes.
That left it 3-0 at the break but Mbappe bagged his second of the evening - and 38th for Les Bleus - on 88 minutes, scoring expertly with a exact finish.
Memphis Depay missed a penalty for the Dutch in second half injury time.
Sergio Gomez was also in action tonight as he played 66 minutes for Spain Under-21s as they beat Switzerland Under-21s 3-2 in a friendly.
Dan Ndoye opened the scoring for the Swiss on seven minutes but Rodri Sanchez levelled matters for the Spanish on 43 minutes.
Rodrigo Riquelme’s double – on 75 minutes and 80 minutes – won it for Santi Denia’s La Rojita at The Power Horse Stadium in Almeria.
