BELGIUM RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois, 6 – His 80th appearance for Belgium and a pretty quiet one, though he was beaten when Harry Kane’s header went past him, only to be cleared by Lukaku. AFP
BELGIUM RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois, 6 – His 80th appearance for Belgium and a pretty quiet one, though he was beaten when Harry Kane’s header went past him, only to be cleared by Lukaku. AFP
Toby Alderweireld, 6 – Superb defending to deny Grealish at the front post following a Trippier cross, though was guilty of dropping deep in the second half and inviting England pressure. EPA
Toby Alderweireld, 6 – Superb defending to deny Grealish at the front post following a Trippier cross, though was guilty of dropping deep in the second half and inviting England pressure. EPA
Jason Denayer, 6 - Played as the anchor behind Vertonghen and impressed. Marshalled Kane well in the first half, but was under a lot of pressure in the second. AP
Jason Denayer, 6 - Played as the anchor behind Vertonghen and impressed. Marshalled Kane well in the first half, but was under a lot of pressure in the second. AP
Jan Vertonghen, 7 –Enjoyed a good tussle against both Grealish and Mount and even showed off with a roulette before half-time. AP
Jan Vertonghen, 7 –Enjoyed a good tussle against both Grealish and Mount and even showed off with a roulette before half-time. AP
Thomas Meunier, 6 - Was always an attacking outlet on the right when Belgium looked to counter on the break in the second half, though sometimes looked like a rabbit in the headlights going forward. PA
Thomas Meunier, 6 - Was always an attacking outlet on the right when Belgium looked to counter on the break in the second half, though sometimes looked like a rabbit in the headlights going forward. PA
Youri Tielemans, 7 – Opened the scoring with a well-struck but deflected effort from the edge of the area. Looked effortless in the middle and always dangerous going forward. AP
Youri Tielemans, 7 – Opened the scoring with a well-struck but deflected effort from the edge of the area. Looked effortless in the middle and always dangerous going forward. AP
Axel Witsel, 6 – Looked tired at times but still managed to combine well with Tielemans in the middle, playing the deeper of the two. A strong and physical presence. EPA
Axel Witsel, 6 – Looked tired at times but still managed to combine well with Tielemans in the middle, playing the deeper of the two. A strong and physical presence. EPA
Thorgan Hazard, 6 – Looked to be one of Belgium’s weaker links, though in his defence was asked to play as a wing-back. Always looked lively with the ball at his feet but never looked comfortable defending. PA
Thorgan Hazard, 6 – Looked to be one of Belgium’s weaker links, though in his defence was asked to play as a wing-back. Always looked lively with the ball at his feet but never looked comfortable defending. PA
Kevin De Bruyne, 7 – Earned the free-kick that saw Belgium double their lead., though he appeared to kick Declan Rice rather than the other way round. One of his quieter games, but always a threat. AFP
Kevin De Bruyne, 7 – Earned the free-kick that saw Belgium double their lead., though he appeared to kick Declan Rice rather than the other way round. One of his quieter games, but always a threat. AFP
Dries Mertens, 6 – He scored with a fantastic free-kick from 25 yards to double Belgium’s lead and was a threat in the first hour. England did well to keep him quiet in the second half. PA
Dries Mertens, 6 – He scored with a fantastic free-kick from 25 yards to double Belgium’s lead and was a threat in the first hour. England did well to keep him quiet in the second half. PA
Romelu Lukaku, 7 – Was heavily involved at both ends in the first half in a crucial two-minute period. First, he held the ball up to play in Tielemans for the first goal before clearing off his line from Kane’s header. Lead the line well. PA
Romelu Lukaku, 7 – Was heavily involved at both ends in the first half in a crucial two-minute period. First, he held the ball up to play in Tielemans for the first goal before clearing off his line from Kane’s header. Lead the line well. PA
SUB: Dennis Praet, N/A – Replaced Mertens and impressed with his passing ability, with one delivery with the outside of his boot particularly impressive. AFP
SUB: Dennis Praet, N/A – Replaced Mertens and impressed with his passing ability, with one delivery with the outside of his boot particularly impressive. AFP
ENGLAND RATINGS: Jordan Pickford, 6 – Got close to Tielemans’ opener despite the shot taking a deflection off Tyrone Mings in front of him. Then took a step to his left before diving to his right, which might have prevented him from getting to the second. AFP
ENGLAND RATINGS: Jordan Pickford, 6 – Got close to Tielemans’ opener despite the shot taking a deflection off Tyrone Mings in front of him. Then took a step to his left before diving to his right, which might have prevented him from getting to the second. AFP
Kyle Walker, 5 – Played at the right of the back three and was forced to tuck in more than he would like. That said, he still managed to get forward on occasion. PA
Kyle Walker, 5 – Played at the right of the back three and was forced to tuck in more than he would like. That said, he still managed to get forward on occasion. PA
Eric Dier, 4 – Was guilty of playing a dangerous pass from the back that was seized by Belgium and lead to the opening goal. Was guilty of giving the ball away too often. Reuters
Eric Dier, 4 – Was guilty of playing a dangerous pass from the back that was seized by Belgium and lead to the opening goal. Was guilty of giving the ball away too often. Reuters
Tyrone Mings, 5 – A solid performance from England’s left-sided centre-back. Comfortable on the ball and did a good job keeping Lukaku quiet for the most part. Reuters
Tyrone Mings, 5 – A solid performance from England’s left-sided centre-back. Comfortable on the ball and did a good job keeping Lukaku quiet for the most part. Reuters
Kieran Trippier, 5 – A solid but not spectacular performance from Trippier, who got better as the game went on. Always a threat from set pieces, but perhaps not dynamic enough in that wing-back position. Reuters
Kieran Trippier, 5 – A solid but not spectacular performance from Trippier, who got better as the game went on. Always a threat from set pieces, but perhaps not dynamic enough in that wing-back position. Reuters
Declan Rice, 5 –Was overrun for much of the first half but managed to get his foot on the ball a bit more in the second. AFP
Declan Rice, 5 –Was overrun for much of the first half but managed to get his foot on the ball a bit more in the second. AFP
Jordan Henderson, 5 – Didn’t do a lot wrong but as a partnership, the Henderson-Rice axis didn’t really work. Getty
Jordan Henderson, 5 – Didn’t do a lot wrong but as a partnership, the Henderson-Rice axis didn’t really work. Getty
Ben Chilwell, 5 – Playing in a wingback position, the Chelsea defender was a source of crosses in the first half hour but he was forced off with an injury before the break. AFP
Ben Chilwell, 5 – Playing in a wingback position, the Chelsea defender was a source of crosses in the first half hour but he was forced off with an injury before the break. AFP
Mason Mount, 6 – Playing in a front three didn’t really suit Mount, though he came close with a header having evaded Meunier just before the break, and then contributed a clever flick to set up Kane in the second half. AP
Mason Mount, 6 – Playing in a front three didn’t really suit Mount, though he came close with a header having evaded Meunier just before the break, and then contributed a clever flick to set up Kane in the second half. AP
Jack Grealish, 7 – Continued his promising form for England and imposed himself on the game, running at defenders and breaking between the lines. Came close following some excellent movement at the front post but was denied by Alderweireld, and then again with a shot that went just over. EPA
Jack Grealish, 7 – Continued his promising form for England and imposed himself on the game, running at defenders and breaking between the lines. Came close following some excellent movement at the front post but was denied by Alderweireld, and then again with a shot that went just over. EPA
Harry Kane, 6 – Came close with a superb header under pressure that was saved on the line by Lukaku, but was often marshalled by several defenders. EPA
Harry Kane, 6 – Came close with a superb header under pressure that was saved on the line by Lukaku, but was often marshalled by several defenders. EPA
SUBS: Bukayo Saka, 7 – Looked impressive when he came on. Slick passing and liked to get forward, he linked well with Grealish. EPA
SUBS: Bukayo Saka, 7 – Looked impressive when he came on. Slick passing and liked to get forward, he linked well with Grealish. EPA
Harry Winks, 6 – England needed a bit more attacking intent in the second half and Winks played too safe at times, though he did look good on the ball. PA
Harry Winks, 6 – England needed a bit more attacking intent in the second half and Winks played too safe at times, though he did look good on the ball. PA
Jadon Sancho, 5 – Was brought on to replace Trippier in the wing-back position and he looked a bit lost. Needed to play further forward. AFP
Jadon Sancho, 5 – Was brought on to replace Trippier in the wing-back position and he looked a bit lost. Needed to play further forward. AFP
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 5 – Came on to play on the right of England’s attack and didn’t see much of the ball. PA
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 5 – Came on to play on the right of England’s attack and didn’t see much of the ball. PA

Football

Kevin de Bruyne 7; Jack Grealish 7, Harry Kane 6, Eric Dier 4: Belgium v England player ratings

Belgium ease to comfortable 2-0 win and end England's Nations League hopes

Nick Judd

November 16, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Goals from Youri Tielemans and Dries Mertens earned Belgium a comfortable 2-0 victory and England's hopes of qualifying for the Nations League finals.

England needed a win but Gareth Southgate's side found themselves chasing the game after Tielemans put the hosts in front after 10 minutes.

Harry Kane had an effort cleared off the line soon after but it got even worse for England when Mertens curled home a delightful free kick after 23 minutes.

Belgium held on with few real alarms against an unimaginative England side and must now avoid defeat on Wednesday against Denmark, who beat Iceland 2-1, to finish top of the group.

A second successive defeat for England, after a home loss to Denmark, left them in third place in the group with one match to come at home to Iceland next week.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

'Midnights'
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PULITZER PRIZE 2020 WINNERS

JOURNALISM 

Public Service
Anchorage Daily News in collaboration with ProPublica

Breaking News Reporting
Staff of The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.

Investigative Reporting
Brian M. Rosenthal of The New York Times

Explanatory Reporting
Staff of The Washington Post

Local Reporting  
Staff of The Baltimore Sun

National Reporting
T. Christian Miller, Megan Rose and Robert Faturechi of ProPublica

and    

Dominic Gates, Steve Miletich, Mike Baker and Lewis Kamb of The Seattle Times

International Reporting
Staff of The New York Times

Feature Writing
Ben Taub of The New Yorker

Commentary
Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times

Criticism
Christopher Knight of the Los Angeles Times

Editorial Writing
Jeffery Gerritt of the Palestine (Tx.) Herald-Press

Editorial Cartooning
Barry Blitt, contributor, The New Yorker

Breaking News Photography
Photography Staff of Reuters

Feature Photography
Channi Anand, Mukhtar Khan and Dar Yasin of the Associated Press

Audio Reporting
Staff of This American Life with Molly O’Toole of the Los Angeles Times and Emily Green, freelancer, Vice News for “The Out Crowd”

LETTERS AND DRAMA

Fiction
"The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday)

Drama
"A Strange Loop" by Michael R. Jackson

History
"Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America" by W. Caleb McDaniel (Oxford University Press)

Biography
"Sontag: Her Life and Work" by Benjamin Moser (Ecco/HarperCollins)

Poetry
"The Tradition" by Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)

General Nonfiction
"The Undying: Pain, Vulnerability, Mortality, Medicine, Art, Time, Dreams, Data, Exhaustion, Cancer, and Care" by Anne Boyer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

and

"The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America" by Greg Grandin (Metropolitan Books)

Music
"The Central Park Five" by Anthony Davis, premiered by Long Beach Opera on June 15, 2019

Special Citation
Ida B. Wells

 

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