BRUSSELS — Belgium came from behind to beat Norway 3-2 and win some relief from its fans in Sunday’s send-off game for the European Championship.
Romelu Lukaku scored his fourth goal in as many games but after two Norway strikes, Belgium had to count on Eden Hazard and Laurent Ciman to force a difficult victory Sunday against an opponent supposed to be little more than a sparring partner.
Joshua King and Veton Berisha had scored to give Norway a 2-1 lead and momentarily stun the 40,000-strong crowd at the King Baudouin Stadium before the Red Devils came through with an inspired second-half spell.
"The most important thing is that we won," said Lukaku.
When Belgium trailed 2-1 after 48 minutes, "we stayed calmed and created chances," said Lukaku, who is as good as a certainty to start in Belgium’s Group E opener against Italy on June 13.
Belgium also faces Sweden and Ireland in the group stage and Lukaku insisted everything should be better by then. "We need to be sharper, and better."
Belgium has a wealth of attacking flair with the likes of Lukaku, Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, but after Vincent Kompany and a slew of other defenders had to withdraw through injury, the defence again was the weak point.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots had experimented during the 2-1 win over Switzerland and Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at home against Finland, and now seemed to settle for the Tottenham duo of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defence. Still, Belgium often looked slow against an average offence.
