England were handed a 2-0 Nations League defeat by Group A, 2 leaders Belgium in Leuven on Thursday night, meaning they cannot progress to the finals in 2021.
Belgium grabbed a 2-0 lead after just 24 minutes with Youri Tielemans deflected strike creeping in off the post before Dries Mertens posted a free-kick into the top corner.
“We were always in control at 2-0, sometimes it can be dangerous, you feel comfortable but we defended (Belgium goalkeeper) Thibaut Courtois’s goal very well,” said Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.
Gareth Southgate’s England pushed for a second-half goal to try and mount a comeback but they could not find a response.
“I thought we were excellent. I couldn’t have enough praise for the players,” said Southgate.
“If you play at the level we did tonight, I think we will win more games than we lose.”
Belgium have 12 points at the top of the group, two ahead of Denmark, who they will play next Wednesday to decide who goes through to the finals as the group winner.
“Denmark are a very good side, the key is being good in what you do and we are looking forward to that game,” Martinez added.
The good news for England, who finished third in the inaugural 2019 tournament, is they cannot be relegated to the Nations League B division as they finish their campaign against bottom side Iceland on Wednesday.
Southgate’s squad has been depleted due to injury and coronavirus in what the manager called “bizarre disappointment.” Already without striker Marcus Rashford and defender Conor Coady as a covid-enforced self-isolation case, they lost Raheem Sterling due to injury.
“Losing Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, we lose a lot of speed,” explained Southgate. “But I can’t fault the attacking play until the last chance.”
England’s situation was further damaged when they fell a goal behind after 10 minutes when Tielemans’ long distance effort clipped the boot of Tyrone Mings, which took the ball away from outstretched goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for Belgium to take charge.
On his 50th cap for England, Harry Kane almost immediately got England back in the game with a looping header but Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku stepped in at the last second to clear it off the line.
“We were dominant. We were unlucky to concede the two goals,” said the England captain Kane.
“A deflection and I don’t think the second was a free-kick. A lot of positives to take but it will give us confidence.”
English heads dropped when they gave away a free-kick that was scored neatly by Mertens to double Belgium’s tally.
England pushed to get a goal before half-time and the best chance came from Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, who played a starring role in attack but could not find the back of the net.
“I thought he was outstanding, he should be delighted,” praised Southgate after Grealish’s first start in a major competition.
I saw what I knew I would see from Jack, someone with the bravery to play. I couldn’t speak highly enough of his performance.”
Lukaku could have made it 3-0 with 15 minutes left but his quick shot from close range was denied confidently by England’s number one Pickford.
After a successful run in the Nations League finals last year, the 2020 edition that saw England hampered by injury and coronavirus proved detrimental for Southgate’s men as they bowed out and Belgium marched on.