'No excuses!' - Belgium crushed by Netherlands in Nations League as World Cup prep off to rocky start

Belgium's World Cup preparations got off on the wrong foot on Friday as the Red Devils were thrashed 4-1 by neighbours Netherlands in the Nations League.

Roberto Martinez's men are expected to be among the front-runners when the action kicks off in Qatar in November.

But judging on this latest display, they have some work to do if they are to challenge for their first-ever World Cup trophy.

The first goal of the evening fell to Steven Bergwijn, who finished past Simon Mignolet just before half-time to put the visitors ahead in the King Baudouin Stadium.

Memphis Depay added another after the break, and Denzel Dumfries was also on target before the Barcelona man made it 4-0 with his second of the night just after the hour mark.

The game was deep into injury time before Belgium finally got on the scoresheet through Michy Batshuayi.

It was scant consolation after a bruising result, though the hosts were without first-choice goalkeeper and Real Madrid's new Champions League hero Thibaut Courtois, who withdrew from the fixture due to injury, and lost striker Romelu Lukaku to a knock in the 27th minute.

The Netherlands smash Belgium 4-1 in their own stadium