Semifinals line-up complete as Italy and Belgium prevail

Italy gave another impressive performance and extended their unbeaten run to 22 games with a 2-0 win away to Bosnia as they reached the Nations League final four on Wednesday while Belgium cruised past Denmark 4-2 in Leuven to book a place, with Romelu Lukaku scoring twice.

Belgium and Italy join world champions France and Spain in qualifying for next October's finals.

Italy were again missing coach Roberto Mancini after he tested positive for Covid-19 as well as a number of key players including injured defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, and forward Ciro Immobile over a Covid-19 related issue.

Bosnia, already relegated, were without Ibrahim Sehic, Sead Kolasinac and Edin Dzeko after they tested positive for Covid-19.

"The coach wants us to play our football wherever we go and that is the mentality we've really taken in," said Italy winger Lorenzo Insigne. "This shirt has to be honoured every time and we give our all for Italy."

Extending their unbeaten streak under Roberto Mancini to 22 games. It is the best run for the Azzurri since July 2006, when they went 25 games unbeaten and won the World Cup. PHOTO: TWITTER

"It will be nice to measure ourselves up because we're talking about the strongest teams in Europe so we can't wait to compare ourselves to them to see our level, how far we've come," assistant coach Alberico Evani, who filled in for head coach Roberto Mancini, said.

Roberto Martinez's world-number-one-ranked Belgians only had to avoid defeat to qualify from Group A2 but secured a finals spot in style.

Lukaku, who has now scored 17 goals in his last 14 international games after his second-half double, said Belgium can play with flair and attacking style but also know how to grind out a result.

The Belgians have been one of Europe's form teams in recent years but despite topping the FIFA rankings, they have sometimes looked vulnerable under pressure when not dominating matches.

"We have proven now we can play difficult games. We can play teams off the park but we also know how to win when its needed even if it is not with our best style. When we need we can play with a strong defence and on the counter attack," he said.