Belgium hit Poland for six to get Nations League campaign up and running

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said he was pleased with his team's response to losing to the Netherlands after cruising to a 6-1 win over Poland in the Nations League on Wednesday.

Belgium lost their opening game to neighbours Netherlands but immediately bounced back with an increasingly dominant performance and finished the game with five goals in just over 30 minutes.

"It brings extra emotion when you lose against your rivals so that was definitely a motivator tonight," Martinez said. "Against The Netherlands we were passive, waiting, insecure. Now we were a team instead of individuals."

Belgium suffered another early setback on Wednesday when Poland took the lead after 28 minutes as star striker Robert Lewandowski struck his 22nd goal for club and country in 2022.

The Bayern Munich forward controlled a pass from Piotr Zielinski in mid-air and then poked it past the on-rushing Simon Mignolet with the outside of his left boot.

The hosts levelled three minutes before half time. Kevin de Bruyne cut through the Polish defence, and after his drive was parried, Timothy Castagne rolled the ball back to Axel Witsel who swerved a drive inside the post.

Belgium took the lead after 59 minutes on the counter-attack, captain Eden Hazard finding De Bruyne free in the box and he slid a shot past Bartlomiej Dragowski.

Hazard, who struggled with injury at Real Madrid this season and was an unused substitute in the Champions League final, came off after 66 minutes.

"I am extremely happy that I could be important to the team, especially after my season," Hazard said.

Leandro Trossard replaced Hazard and scored twice in seven minutes. Defender Leander Dendoncker then struck his first international goal from long range. Lois Openda, who