Staff Reporter.
Romelu Lukaku celebrated his 100th Belgium cap with his 67th international goal in a comfortable win over the Czech Republic in World Cup qualifying.
The Chelsea striker, 28, raced onto a Hans Vanaken through ball to score with a first-time finish from the edge of the box.
Vanaken then set up Eden Hazard to score his first international goal since November 2019.
Lukaku flicked the ball on for Alexis Saelemaekers to score Belgium’s third.
Lukaku is the sixth Belgian to win 100 caps, although he is still well behind current team-mate Jan Vertonghen’s record of 132 (and counting).
Hazard is Belgium’s second top scorer ever with 33 goals, less than half of Lukaku’s total.
Lukaku was also booked which means he will miss Wednesday’s game with Belarus in Russia – and can instead return to London now.
Belgium top Group E on 13 points from five games, six points clear of the second-placed Czechs. Wales, on six points, have two games in hand though.
Meanwhile Italy equalled the international record of 36 unbeaten games but were held to a draw in Switzerland that keeps World Cup qualifying Group C in the balance.
The European champions were the better side but also wasteful, with Jorginho seeing a second-half penalty saved.
Roberto Mancini’s side top the group with 10 points, four points ahead of the second-placed Swiss but having played two matches more.
Elsewhere, Germany and Spain both recorded big wins to top their groups.
And that is where Italy find themselves after securing a second successive draw, but one that gives them a place in the record books, ahead of the 35-game run of Spain (2007-09) and level with the 36 games without defeat set by Brazil between 1993 and 1996.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho’s spot-kick was the Azzurri’s golden chance to seal the win and return to winning ways after their disappointing 1-1 home draw with Bulgaria on Thursday.
But his effort was saved by Yann Sommer, who guessed correctly to block down to his left after Domenico Berardi had been fouled by Ricardo Rodriguez.
The next Group C games are on Wednesday, with Italy hosting winless Lithuania and Switzerland travelling to face the side placed third in the group, Northern Ireland.