Borussia Dortmund internationals: Witsel scores in Belgium rout, Delaney frustrates Sancho and England

Seven Borussia Dortmund players were in action for their respective national teams on the final day of the international break.

Borussia Dortmund’s Belgian trio of Axel Witsel, Thomas Meunier and Thorgan Hazard were all named in the starting XI as the Red Devils enjoyed a dominant 5-1 win over Iceland. Belgium fell behind early on after Holmbert Fridjonsson’s deflected effort found the back of the net. But Axel Witsel scored the equaliser just three minutes later, before former Dortmund striker Michy Batshuayi made it 2-1 for the hosts.

Dries Mertens scored Belgium’s third soon after the start of the second half, before Batshuayi and Jeremy Doku added two more to complete the 5-1 rout. Meunier and Witsel both played 90 minutes, while Hazard was subbed off just after the hour mark.

Borussia Dortmund duo Thomas Delaney and Jadon Sancho both started for their respective countries as Denmark hosted England in the other game in Group A2. Delaney put in an excellent shift as he helped his side and keep an impressive clean-sheet. Sancho was substituted after 60 minutes on what was a frustrating night for the England forwards.

Raphael Guerreiro and Portugal continued their excellent run of form with a 2-0 win away to Sweden. Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace gave the Nations League holders a relatively comfortable win, as Guerreiro had another solid game at left-back. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham made his first start for England U-21s, as they beat Austria 2-1 in their UEFA Euro U-21s qualifier.

The seven players will now return to Dortmund with just five days to go before the Black and Yellows play their first competitive game of the new season against MSV Duisburg in the first round of the DFB Pokal.