Top of the world! Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard take Belgium to No 1 in the rankings with victory over Israel
- Belgium 3-1 Israel: The Red Devils set to rise in FIFA rankings after victory in Euro 2016 qualifier in Brussels
- Dries Mertens combined with Kevin De Bruyne to put Belgium ahead in the 64th minute against Israel on Tuesday
- The Manchester City forward doubled their lead when his dipping free kick beat the goalkeeper in the 78th minute
- Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard sealed victory with a clinical finish from the edge of the box six minutes from time
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Belgium secured top spot in Group B after Dries Mertens made up for a howling first-half miss to score and set up another in their 3-1 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Israel on Tuesday.
The win means Belgium are also set to rise to No 1 in FIFA's volatile ranking system, while Israel's hopes of reaching the tournament in France next year were ended.
Belgium had already qualified after a 4-1 victory over Andorra on Saturday and Tuesday's win kept them two points clear of Wales in the standings.
Belgium captain Vincent Kompany led the celebrations after playing for almost an hour despite fears over his fitness
Kompany had declared himself fit to play on Tuesday night despite Manchester City's concerns over his recovery from calf injury
The Belgium players had plenty to celebrate after victory over Israel meant they would rise to No 1 in the FIFA rankings
Belgium had the lion's share of possession throughout the match and would have been ahead at half-time but for a spectacular miss from Mertens. Faced with an open goal two metres out, he somehow shot wide.
In the 64th minute, however, he made amends, taking a pass from Kevin De Bruyne and shifting right to bypass the defence and drive low past Israel keeper Ofir Marciano.
De Bruyne's dipping and bouncing free-kick was also too much for Marciano in the 78th minute and Mertens was on hand again six minutes later to find an unmarked Eden Hazard in front of goal for an easy finish.
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The official Twitter feed of the Belgian team celebrated the Red Devils climbing to No 1 in the FIFA rankings
Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen (centre) posted selfie on his Instagram as Belgium celebrated on Tuesday night
Vertonghen takes a selfie with Dries Mertens (left) and Radja Nainggola (centre) after the 3-1 victory against Israel
Israel came close midway through the first half when Eran Zahavi curled a free-kick against the post. Tomer Hemed's headed goal for Israel in the 88th minute was simply a consolation.
'I am super pleased. Yes! No. 1 in the world,' said Mertens on Belgium's unlikely run from 71st place in 2007 to sweeping past Germany and Argentina over the past weekend to top place.
MATCH FACTS, EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS AND PLAY-OFFS
Belgium: Mignolet, Vertonghen, Lombaerts, Kompany (Meunier 58), Alderweireld, Nainggolan, Fellaini (Witsel 65), Hazard, De Bruyne, Mertens, Romelu Lukaku (Origi 65).
Subs Not Used: Sels, Bakkali, Boyata, Kums, Depoitre, Cavanda, Chadli, Jordan Lukaku, Gillet.
Booked: De Bruyne,Lombaerts.
Goals: Mertens 64,De Bruyne 78,Hazard 84.
Israel: Marciano,Ben Haroush,Tibi, Ben Haim I, Dgani, Kayal (Damari 66),Yeini (Vermouth 77), Peretz, Ben Haim II (Reikan 59), Hemed, Zahavi.
Subs Not Used: Levy, Davidadze, Elkayami, Melikson, Dabour, Tzedek, Kahat, Haimov.
Booked: Reikan.
Goal: Hemed 88.
Ref: Tasos Sidiropoulos (Greece).
Qualified
Hosts: France
Group A: Iceland, Czech Republic
Group B: Belgium, Wales
Group C: Spain, Slovakia
Group D: Germany, Poland
Group E: England, Switzerland
Group F: Northern Ireland, Romania
Group G: Austria, Russia
Group H: Italy, Croatia
Group I: Portugal, Albania
Best 3rd team: Turkey (Group A)
Eight teams to playoffs
Bosnia, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Hungary, Sweden, Norway, Denmark
European Championship qualifying
Euro 2016 draws
The play-off draw is on October 18 and the draw for the finals is on December 12
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Tottenham defender Thomas Vermaelen tweeted their delight over Belgium's success
Belgium's forward Dries Mertens (centre) celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Israel on Tuesday night
Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium celebrates after scoring the second goal with a dipping free kick in the 78th minute
Mertens was on hand again six minutes later to find an unmarked Eden Hazard in front of goal, for an easy finish
Hazard (centre) is congratulated by team-mates after scoring the third goal in the 84th minute against Israel
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku went close to breaking the deadlock in the first-half against Israel
Belgium midfielder Hazard finds himself outnumbered as he tries to find a way through Israel defence
Before a raucous crowd of 42,000 at the King Baudouin stadium, it fell to Mertens to break the deadlock. As so often, Belgium then pushed through in the final stages of the match.
'Whatever happens, we get through it,' added defender Vincent Kompany.
The defeat ended Israel's slim hopes of claiming a play-off spot.
Bosnia finished above Israel after two goals from midfielder Haris Medunjanin and a towering header from substitute Milan Djuric were enough to secure a 3-2 victory in Cyprus.
Israel defender Tal Ben Haim skips past Belgium goalkeeper Simon Mignolet but he could not find the net
Israel midfeilder Sheran Yeini duels for the ball with Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (left) and Kevin De Bruyne (right)
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellain was one of the Premier League contingent on show for Belgium
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3271262/Belgium-3-1-Israel-Kevin-Bruyne-Eden-Hazard-target-world-s-No-1-team.html#ixzz3oXK6hIpO
