MATCH REPORT: BELGIUM 3-0 RUSSIA

Photo credit: Anatoly Maltsev (AFP/Getty Images)

Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Belgium hammered Russia 3-0 in their first group game of Euro 2020.

The centre forward dedicated his first goal to Inter Milan team-mate Christian Eriksen who had collapsed during the other Group B match between Denmark and Finland earlier that day.

He scored again two minutes from time, adding to Thomas Meunier’s 34^th minute strike, to seal a routine win for Roberto Martinez’s side.

Sitting top of the world rankings, Belgium are one of the favourites to win the whole tournament and they cemented this claim with a superb opening display.

Russia struggled to get going and were behind after just 10 minutes when Lukaku capitalised on a defensive error and slotted past Antonin Shunin.

Having only been on the pitch seven minutes, Borussia Dortmund wide midfielder Meunier doubled his nation’s advantage with a simple strike before Lukaku grabbed his second with a quality finish on his weaker foot.

Having enjoyed a relatively successful 2018 World Cup as hosts, Stanislav Cherchesov’s side failed to recapture this form in St. Petersburg and were ripped apart by the formidable Red Devils.

It was a huge statement from both Belgium and their talisman Lukaku who looks to be continuing the form of a successful domestic campaign in Italy into the Euros.