Jon Dahl Tomasson put Denmark ahead in the 37th minute against the run of play.

Jesper Groenkjaer ended a rapid break down the right wing with a superb low cross through a wide open Belgian defence and unmarked Tomasson had an easy task near the post.

Before Denmark scored Belgium's Emile Mpenza headed against the bar and Gert Verheyen shot against the post before Mpenza also forced Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel to make a brilliant diving save.

Belgium equalised when Lorenzo Staelens scored from the spot after 53 minutes after Jan Heintze pulled down Verheyen.

Then Schmeichel, earning his 121st cap, put Denmark 2-1 up from a penalty at the other end eight minutes later - his first goal for Denmark - after Joos Valgaeren fouled Martin Laursen.

In the 73rd minute, Luc Nilis pulled away on the left wing and found Marc Wilmots alone in a gaping hole between Denmark's central defenders Rene Henriksen and Laursen. Wilmots scored between Schmeichel's legs.

Denmark used 16 players and Belgium 17.

'I am very satisfied to have had the chance to see so many players in action,' Denmark head coach Bo Johansson said.

'We had some problems in the central defence,' he said, adding: 'Peter (Schmeichel) saved the match for us.'

Schmeichel said Denmark deserved to win. 'Apart from a spell in the first half we were in control. We played some really good combinations.'

'We have improved steadily and we can look ahead with confidence,' he said.

Belgium's head coach Robert Waseige said he was satisfied with the result, 'and especially with our second half.'

Belgian first-choice goalkeeper Philip de Wilde came off after 28 minutes but Waseige said de Wilde's injury was not serious.

Danish midfielder Brian Steen Nielsen limped off with a sprained ankle in the 34th minute. Johansson said the ankle would be in shape in a couple of days.