Belgium open Euro 2016 qualifying with smashing win over Andorra

BRUSSELS --

Belgium held target practice for a 6-0 victory over tiny Andorra on Friday to give the Group B favorite a confident start to its European Championship qualifying campaign.

Kevin De Bruyne and Dries Mertens scored two goals each and Divock Origi and Nacer Chadli added the rest to give the victory a special World Cup flavor since most of the scorers were instrumental in getting Belgium to the quarterfinals in Brazil this summer.

Israel also had a successful start, beating Cyprus in Nicosia 2-1. Wales took the group lead by one point over Cyprus, Israel and Belgium after holding Bosnia-Herzegovina to a 0-0 draw in Cardiff in its second game.

But with its constant pressure and free-flowing moves, Belgium showed it will be the team to beat in the group.

''That was fun. A beautiful victory,'' said De Bruyne after Belgium scored as many goals in one game as during the whole World Cup.

The easy victory came without playmaker Eden Hazard, who was protectively kept on the bench with a stubbed toe. Another Chelsea star, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, was on the pitch for the whole game despite suffering a head injury in a collision against Arsenal last weekend. He did not have to make a save.

Belgium pushed forward from the start against the tiny Pyrenean nation ranked 203rd in the world, but was frustrated early on when it hit the woodwork three times before De Bruyne opened the score on a penalty in the 31st minute.

Belgium ran amok for the next 37 minutes to run up the score to six to the delight to the sellout crowd of 50,000 at the King Baudouin Stadium.

''It was a packed house, so we had better perform,'' De Bruyne said.

Next up for Belgium is a game in Bosnia next Monday. Its opening game against Israel was postponed last month.

Wales was hoping to get past Bosnia on Friday to take command of the group, but needed to rely on a staunch defense to move into a narrow lead. At the other end, a late right-footed drive from Real Madrid star Bale was well saved by Asmir Begovic.

Israel marked the start of their challenge with a 2-1 win over Cyprus in Nicosia.

Omer Damari put the visitors ahead on 38 minutes, with Tal Ben Haim adding a second just before the break. Cyprus - who recorded an impressive away win over Bosnia in their first qualifier - rallied and reduced the deficit through Konstantinos Makridis on 67 minutes, but could not find an equalizer.

Iceland netted a second successive 3-0 win, with second-half goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson, Aron Gunnarsson and Rurik Gislason seeing off 10-man Latvia, who had Artjoms Rudnevs dismissed when the game was still goalless.

The Czechs, meanwhile, were 2-1 winners in Turkey. Umut Bulut put the hosts ahead early but Tomas Sivok grabbed an equaliser and Borek Dockal grabbed the winner.

Croatia were 1-0 winners in Bulgaria courtesy of Nikolay Bodurov's 36th-minute own goal.

Joshua King scored twice as Norway completed a comfortable 3-0 win away to Malta. The Blackburn forward's double followed an opener from Mats Moller Daehli as the Scandinavians secured their first points in Group H.