England's goal keeper Jordan Pickford (R) could do nothing as Belgium's Youri Tielemans' strike took a deflection before making its way in off the inside of the post on Sunday — Internet PARIS, Nov 16 (AFP): Belgium ended England's hopes of reaching the Nations League finals with a 2-0 win on Sunday while Italy edged closer to next year's title shake-up.
Belgium were just five minutes from joining world champions France at next October's finals when Iceland pulled level at 1-1 with group rivals Denmark in Copenhagen.
However, a stoppage time penalty by Christian Eriksen gave the Danes a 2-1 win and kept alive their chances of pipping Belgium to top spot in Group A2.
Youri Tielemans and Dries Mertens scored the goals which gave world number one Belgium victory over Gareth Southgate's England.
Leicester midfielder Tielemans's deflected effort went in off the post after 10 minutes.
Fourteen minutes later, Declan Rice was harshly punished for a challenge on Kevin De Bruyne just outside the area and Mertens curled the resulting free-kick perfectly over the wall to give Jordan Pickford no chance.
A second consecutive defeat leaves England down in third place, five points adrift of Belgium, with just one game remaining.
Denmark's late winner over Iceland means Belgium still need a point when they host the Danes on Wednesday to secure their place in the final four.
In Copenhagen, Iceland, whose Euro 2020 hopes were dashed by Hungary in a 2-1 play-off defeat in midweek, suffered more agony.
Eriksen gave the Danes the lead from the penalty spot after 12 minutes following a foul by Ari Freyr Skulason on Daniel Wass.
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