(Football news) In their first match, Domenico Tedesco’s team was defeated 1-0 by Slovakia; however, the Tricolors scored three goals in a row to defeat Ukraine and now have a chance to shock everyone by qualifying for the round of 16 in Cologne.
From the first whistle, it seemed like a done deal, but Belgium was devastated by yet another major tournament defeat. They were lamenting their lack of a decisive moment and the biggest surprise of the first Euro 2024 matchday was undoubtedly the VAR rulings that went against them.
With only seven minutes remaining, the net widened as Ivan Schranz managed to stay onside and score off a rebound. However, Romelu Lukaku was unlucky to have two goals disallowed—one for offside and the other for Lois Openda’s handball—due to the new technology.
Such a gut-wrenching defeat marked Belgium’s first reverse since going down to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup – and thereby handing Tedesco his first loss as Red Devils manager – but the 38-year-old was at least gracious in defeat and refused to point the finger at technology.
By virtue of seeing their 15-match unbeaten run crash and burn, the Belgians are third in the Group E standings – only above fellow pointless side Ukraine on goal difference – and Slovakia beating the latter on Friday would eliminate their chances of topping the group before they kick a ball at the weekend.
Formerly lauded for their ‘golden generation’ of talents, Belgium’s decline has now seen the Red Devils go three games without a win at major tournaments – having won 13 of their previous 14 before that dismal sequence – and not since 2002 have they suffered a longer such streak.
Not since Euro 2000 have the Red Devils lost multiple matches at one European Championship, though, and not since the first-ever World Cup in 1930 have Belgium been consigned to defeat in both of their opening two games of a major tournament, but their morale levels will no doubt be heavily depleted compared to their optimistic opponents.
Few had a three-goal Romania victory against Ukraine on their bingo card for Euro 2024 – Serhiy Rebrov’s men had even been tipped as dark horses by many – but thanks in no small part to an Andriy Lunin disaster class, the Tricolours lit up the yellow-clad Allianz Arena.
Two mistakes from Lunin aided two long-range strikes from Nicolae Stanciu and Razvan Marin, before Denis Dragus put the cherry on top for Edward Iordanescu’s charges, who now hold the honour of recording Romania’s biggest win ever at the men’s Euros.
Prior to the 2024 edition, a 3-2 beating of England in 2000 represented the Tricolours’ only success at the continental gathering – they failed to pick up a single win in the 2008 or 2016 editions – but first place in Group E and a route to the knockout rounds is now theirs to lose.
Victory at the RheinEnergieStadion would seal Romania’s knockout qualification with a game to spare, but while their beating of Ukraine was certainly striking, Iordanescu’s men had been more than holding their own in the months leading up to this summer’s Euros.
Indeed, only one of Romania’s 16 matches has ended in defeat – a 3-2 friendly loss to Colombia in March – and they have now recorded three clean sheets on the bounce ahead of a 13th meeting with Belgium, whom they also bested 2-1 in a 2012 friendly during their most recent encounter.
Furthermore, should Romania become the latest team to stun the Belgians on Saturday, it would mark just the third time that they have won two matches at a single major tournament, and the first time ever at the Euros, having only ever done so at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.
Also read: Portugal will play Turkey in their second match of the Euro 2024
