Belgium tops Group B, FIFA ranking after 3-1 win over Israel
Posted October 13, 2015 7:00 am
BRUSSELS (AP) - Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Dries Mertens helped Belgium secure top spot in Group B and first place in the FIFA rankings with a 3-1 victory over Israel in their European Championship qualifier on Tuesday.
Victory meant that the 2-0 win of runner-up Wales over Andorra had no impact on the final standings. In a head-to-head for a third-place playoff spot, Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Cyprus 3-2 to give the 2014 World Cup finalist a shot at a second straight major tournament from the plaoffs.
In Brussels, Mertens broke the deadlock in the 64th minute on an assist by De Bruyne, finishing off with a low shotr. Manchester City's De Bruyne scored with a 25-meter free kick in the 78th before Eden Hazard added a goal in the 84th.
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, left, fouls Israel's Tomer Hemed during a Group B Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Israel at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
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Bosnia's Milan Djuric, center, with his teammates, celebrates his goal against Cyprus during the Euro 2016 qualifying Group B match between Cyprus and Bosnia, at GSP stadium, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
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Wales' Gareth Bale, center, celebrates with a member of the coaching staff Aaron Ramsey scoring his side's first goal during the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between Wales and Andorra at Cardiff City stadium in Cardiff, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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Belgium's Dries Mertens, left, celebrates with teammate Radja Nainggolan after scoring against Israel during a Group B Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Israel at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
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