England wasted several gilt-edged chances as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to World Cup runners-up Croatia behind closed doors, while Romelu Lukaku scored twice to earn Belgium a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in the Nations League on Friday.
Eric Dier and Harry Kane headed against the woodwork for England while Marcus Rashford spurned two clear opportunities as they missed out on a first win in the new competition.
England's Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund's exciting 18-year old winger, produced a darting run late on after coming off the bench to replace Raheem Sterling and make his international debut before the match fizzled out in the final few minutes.
The result inside the near-deserted stadium left both sides with one point from two games behind runaway leaders Spain, who have six points and host England in Seville on Monday.
The 18-year-old Jadon Sancho (R) becomes England's ninth-youngest debutant when he replaces Raheem Sterling in the 78th minute during their match against Croatia on October 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
England manager Gareth Southgate was disappointed with the outcome, saying: “Second half we were by far the better team and if we had taken our chances we would have won the game.
“There would be more concern if we weren't creating chances. We showed good endeavor and creative play. We have to keep getting in those situations.”
Without any fans present as Croatia served the second game of a crowd ban for racist offenses by their fans in Euro 2016 qualifying, the instructions from both benches echoed around the eerily empty ground in a tepid first half at the Rijeka stadium.
Lukaku double lifts the mood
In contrast with England, Belgium maintained their strong start to the Nations League with a battling win over Switzerland on Friday.
Lukaku broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, finding himself unmarked on the right as Thomas Meunier set him up for a left-foot shot that squeezed under the body of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Romelu Lukaku roars in delight after striking twice to give Belgium victory against Switzerland on October 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
But the Belgian defense were caught ball watching with about 15 minutes left as Xherdan Shaqiri's free kick was headed back into the danger zone by Nico Elvedi and finished off from close range by substitute Mario Gavranovic.
Belgium defender Vincent Kompany went close with a headed opportunity from a corner and Lukaku blasted over from close range after being set up by substitute Nacer Chadli.
But the Manchester United striker made amends with the 84th-minute winner at the end of a flowing move which involved captain Eden Hazard and a deft pass from Dries Mertens to set Lukaku up for another left-foot finish.
Lukaku's double, which lifted him to 45 goals in 78 internationals, ensured a bright end to a bad week for Belgian football in which 19 people, including two referees, soccer agents and the coach of champions Club Bruges, were charged on Friday with fraud or match-fixing.
Belgium play the Netherlands in a friendly in Brussels on Tuesday while the Swiss go to Iceland for their next Nations League game on Monday.