LIEGE — Kevin De Bruyne delivered a masterclass on Friday evening, scoring twice and setting the stage for a comprehensive victory as Belgium comfortably swept past Türkiye with a 3-0 scoreline at Stade Maurice Dufrane. The dominant display left the visitors firmly anchored to the bottom of their group, searching for answers and their first points of the UEFA Nations League campaign.
Playing in his landmark 127th international appearance for the Red Devils, De Bruyne once again demonstrated his enduring class and unmatched tactical intelligence on the pitch. The veteran playmaker opened the scoring in the first half after a slick exchange of passes with Dodi Lukebakio. Finding a pocket of space just outside the penalty area, De Bruyne unleashed a crisp, accurate finish that left the Turkish defense scrambling and set the tone for a difficult night for the visitors.
Despite falling behind early, Türkiye refused to roll over and attempted to mount a response. The Crescent-Stars pushed bodies forward, applying pressure and periodically posing a genuine attacking threat that tested the Belgian backline. However, their efforts in the final third lacked the necessary precision and composure, as they continually failed to turn promising build-up play into a tangible equalizer before the half-time interval.
De Bruyne made them pay dearly for those missed opportunities shortly after the restart. Demonstrating the sublime technique that has defined his illustrious career, the midfielder punished the visitors a second time with a breathtaking effort. Curving a majestic shot from the edge of the area, he left goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır completely helpless as the ball sailed impeccably into the top corner, doubling Belgium’s advantage and effectively breaking the resistance of the visiting side.
Reflecting on his standout performance and ongoing role within the national team setup, De Bruyne emphasized his desire to set a high standard for his younger peers. Speaking to reporters after the match, the influential midfielder shared his thoughts on continuing his international career with the same passion and drive that has characterized his journey.
"I try to lead by example for the younger players, and they follow easily," De Bruyne said. "I feel I can still contribute. I am enjoying myself, and that is the main thing."
With a comfortable cushion established, the hosts continued to control the tempo of the match, and Belgium coach Mark van Bommel turned to his bench to inject fresh energy into the attack. Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, was introduced in the 61st minute, replacing a tiring frontline and immediately looking to make his mark on the contest.
It took the powerhouse striker just 15 minutes to stamp his authority on the game. Charles De Ketelaere orchestrated the move down the flank, delivering a pinpoint, low cross directly into the danger area. Lukaku met the delivery with trademark predatory instinct, converting cleanly from close range to seal the victory and cap off a thoroughly professional performance from the home side.
Following the final whistle, Coach Van Bommel was quick to praise De Bruyne’s exceptional current run of form while offering a realistic assessment of his team’s overall defensive performance. While satisfied with the clinical nature of his side’s finishing, the manager acknowledged that Belgium had occasionally allowed Türkiye too many openings during the 90 minutes.
"Kevin De Bruyne always wants to play," Van Bommel said. "Italy, France, today. He is in a really good groove. He is radiating joy, and you can see that in the goals he is scoring."
Van Bommel reiterated that despite moments where Belgium temporarily lost control of possession and permitted their opponents to threaten, the final outcome and the manner in which the goals were executed justified his confidence in the squad.
The comprehensive defeat marks Türkiye’s third consecutive loss in as many Group A1 matches, leaving the national team at the foot of the standings without a single point to their name. The situation was further compounded by disciplinary concerns, dealing the visiting side a significant psychological and tactical setback ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
Arda Güler and Barış Alper Yılmaz both picked up yellow cards during the match. Because they were already walking a disciplinary tightrope one booking away from an automatic suspension, the cautions mean both players will now be forced to sit out Türkiye’s daunting away match against Italy scheduled for October 5.
On a brighter note for the visitors, İlhan Fakılı made his senior debut for the Turkish national team after receiving his maiden call-up to the senior squad. The youngster entered the fray in the 67th minute, replacing Oğuz Aydın to gain valuable international experience in a high-pressure environment. Meanwhile, Lukaku was not the only player with ties to the Süper Lig to feature on the pitch, as Beşiktaş player Leandro Trossard also made an appearance for Belgium, coming off the bench in the 74th minute.
With this latest victory, Belgium advanced to six points in Group A1, maintaining their strong position and remaining just one point behind group leaders France as the race for the top spot intensifies.
Elsewhere in Group A1, France experienced a frustrating evening, held to a 1-1 draw by Italy in what marked Zinedine Zidane’s first home match in charge of Les Bleus. Michael Olise had initially put France ahead in the 55th minute, igniting the home crowd, but Alessandro Bastoni struck back for Italy to equalize. The result brought an abrupt end to France’s two-match winning run and handed Zidane’s side their first conceded goal since the former World Cup-winning maestro took over the managerial reins.
"It was tight, but I’m happy with the performance of my side and what I’ve seen," Zidane remarked following the stalemate. "Of course, it’s a slightly frustrating result because we perhaps deserved a little more."
Action across other groups delivered notable performances and drama. In League B, veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski stole the headlines with a sensational hat-trick, leading Poland to a resounding 6-0 rout of Romania in Group 4. In another fixture, Bosnia-Herzegovina played out a 1-1 draw with Sweden, an emotional fixture that marked the 152nd and final international appearance for legendary striker Edin Dzeko, who bowed out from the national team stage.
Further matches saw Northern Ireland secure a commanding 3-0 victory over Ukraine on neutral ground in Trnava, Slovakia, propelled by a brace from Ciaron Brown. Meanwhile, Hungary edged past Georgia with a hard-fought 1-0 win.
The lower tiers provided equally competitive action. In League C, Cyprus recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory against Armenia, Montenegro edged past Latvia 2-1, Moldova secured a narrow 2-1 triumph over Kazakhstan, and the Faroe Islands pulled off an impressive defensive display to hold Slovakia to a 1-1 draw.