Belgium blank Sweden in World Cup warm-up
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — Goals by Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard gave Belgium a 2-0 win over Sweden in a World Cup warm-up game yesterday.
After a slow start, the Belgians took advantage of a Swedish defensive mistake that allowed Axel Witsel to set up the Everton striker in the 34th minute.
Hazard easily rolled in the second goal in the 78th from a pass by Kevin De Bruyne.
Sweden, who played without injured star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, had their best chance in the 68th minute when Jimmy Durmaz hit the crossbar after a corner. Ibrahimovic decided to sit out the game just before the start citing back problems.
Expectations are high on Belgium’s young team, with stars like Lukaku, Hazard and Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany, ahead of the World Cup. It is the country’s first World Cup in 12 years, and its players will meet Russia, South Korea and Algeria in Group H.
Lukaku, who scored the two decisive goals against Croatia that sent Belgium to the World Cup, also scored a hat-trick against Luxembourg on Monday.
The 21-year-old’s position in the team has become much more important after Belgium’s number one Christian Benteke went down with an Achilles injury in April, and out of the World Cup.
Sweden failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Portugal in a play-off.
