Kevin de Bruyne and Jan Vertonghen both scored as Belgium came from behind in Brussels to end a run of 12 successive defeats against Italy.
Antonio Candreva put Italy ahead in the third minute but Tottenham’s Vertonghen headed an equaliser and Manchester City winger De Bruyne lobbed in the second.
Michy Batshuayi claimed a third to seal Belgium’s fifth win over Italy.
There was a minute’s applause in memory of the 39 fans who died before the 1985 Liverpool-Juventus European Cup final.
Belgium went into the game as the number-one ranked team in the world and enhanced their billing as one of the favourites for Euro 2016 next summer with an impressive performance.
Players from both sides remembered the 39 supporters – most of whom were Italian – who lost their lives when a wall at the Heysel Stadium collapsed before the 1985 European Cup final
The home side fell behind after three minutes when Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet saved well from Southampton striker Graziano Pelle but was beaten by Candreva’s follow-up.
But Vertonghen headed the equaliser from a De Bryune corner 10 minutes later, his first goal of the season.
Belgium were missing injured Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany but went ahead in the 74th minute when City team-mate De Bruyne lifted the ball over Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon after he had saved from Batshuayi.
Substitute Batshuayi then completed the scoring from close range seven minutes from the end.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said: “The spirit of the group is perfect. Collectively we kept our cool, came back, and won.”
Supporters also paid tribute to the supporters who died at the Heysel Stadium
Names of the supporters who died ahead of the 1985 European Cup final were displayed on the scoreboard at the ground now known as the King Baudouin Stadium
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Source: BBC Sport
Kevin de Bruyne and Jan Vertonghen both scored as Belgium came from behind in Brussels to end a run of 12 successive defeats against Italy.
Antonio Candreva put Italy ahead in the third minute but Tottenham’s Vertonghen headed an equaliser and Manchester City winger De Bruyne lobbed in the second.
Michy Batshuayi claimed a third to seal Belgium’s fifth win over Italy.
There was a minute’s applause in memory of the 39 fans who died before the 1985 Liverpool-Juventus European Cup final.
Belgium went into the game as the number-one ranked team in the world and enhanced their billing as one of the favourites for Euro 2016 next summer with an impressive performance.
Players from both sides remembered the 39 supporters – most of whom were Italian – who lost their lives when a wall at the Heysel Stadium collapsed before the 1985 European Cup final
The home side fell behind after three minutes when Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet saved well from Southampton striker Graziano Pelle but was beaten by Candreva’s follow-up.
But Vertonghen headed the equaliser from a De Bryune corner 10 minutes later, his first goal of the season.
Belgium were missing injured Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany but went ahead in the 74th minute when City team-mate De Bruyne lifted the ball over Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon after he had saved from Batshuayi.
Substitute Batshuayi then completed the scoring from close range seven minutes from the end.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said: “The spirit of the group is perfect. Collectively we kept our cool, came back, and won.”
Supporters also paid tribute to the supporters who died at the Heysel Stadium
Names of the supporters who died ahead of the 1985 European Cup final were displayed on the scoreboard at the ground now known as the King Baudouin Stadium
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Source: BBC Sport