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Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE: Euro 2024 result and reaction after VAR rule out two Romelu Lukaku equalisers

Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: Lukaku thought he had rescued a point with a 86th minute equaliser but VAR ruled the goal out due to handball as Slovakia held on to claim the shock of the tournament so far

Chris Wilson
Monday 17 June 2024 19:40
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England will be more efficient after 'running out of energy' against Serbia, says Southgate

Slovakia delivered the first major shock result of Euro 2024, snatching an early goal and defending furiously to hold on for a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Group E.

Ivan Schranz took advantage of a horror defensive error to put Slovakia ahead in the seventh minute and kept Belgium at bay with increasing desperation to secure an unexpected triumph at the Frankfurt Arena.

Belgium’s top scorer Romelu Lukaku twice had the ball in the net but was denied after VAR checks, first for offside in the 56th minute and minutes from the end when Lois Openda was adjudged to have handled in the build-up before the striker swept the ball into the net.

Slovakia joined Romania at the top of the group standings after their 3-0 win over Ukraine on Monday. Follow all the latest reaction below before the evening match between Austria and France:

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Romania 0-0 Ukraine

9 mins: Denis Dragus does well on the right side of the pitch to doge away from a tackle and kick start a counter attack. He brings the ball forward before squaring a pass across towards Dennis Man.

Mykola Matviyenko makes the interception and the attack dies out.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:09
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Romania 0-0 Ukraine

6 mins: Ukraine have made the better start to this match. Artem Dovbyk almost manages to bring down a long aerial ball but his touch is slightly too heavy which means the ball runs into the box where Florin Nita scrambles out to smother it.

Razvan Marin then foulas Georgiy Sudakov as the midfielder tries to bring an aerial pass under control in the middle of the pitch. Marin charges into Sudakov’s back and knocks him over before protesting his innocence to the referee.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:07
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Romania 0-0 Ukraine

3 mins: Close! An early break from Ukraine sees them beat the press and attack on the counter. Mykhailo Mudryk is fed the ball over on the left wing and he dances inside.

He weaves past one, two, three defenders as he looks for a space to shoot before deciding instead to slip a pass into the box where it is intercepted and cleared away.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:02
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Kick off! Romania 0-0 Ukraine

With both Romania and Ukraine’s home kits yellow the stadium is awash with bright shirts as the two sets of supporters show their colours.

Romania are the dedicated ‘home’ side today so on the pitch they’re in yellow with Ukraine outfitted in their blue away kit. The noise levels have ramped up massively and this is an excited set of fans.

Artem Dovbyk gets the ball rolling for Ukraine who knock it around the back in the hopes of drawing Romania forward.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:01
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Romania vs Ukraine

Here come the players.

Ukraine are the favourites to get the win in this one but Romania’s qualifying campaign was superb and if they can bring that confidence into the tournament they’ll be tough to beat.

Kick off is up next...

Mike Jones17 June 2024 13:55
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Euro 2024: Romania vs Ukraine LIVE

"It is very good and very important for Ukraine to be in this stage. Because all Ukrainians want to be a European nation," Rebrov said.

"Of course now in our country, football is not in first place. There are lots of people dead, lots of kids dead. Now is a very difficult time for Ukraine.

"We want to remind people the war is continuing. We still need support to continue to fight for our freedom."

Mike Jones17 June 2024 13:53
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Ukraine support coming from frontlines

Ukraine manager Serhiy Rebrov said soldiers on the frontlines have asked his team to "show the spirit" of their country when they face Romania in their Euro 2024 opener.

"All the players, me personally, are getting lots of messages from our fighters, from our soldiers, from our friends who are now fighting for the freedom of Ukraine," said Rebrov.

"I am sure they are very proud of us; we are very proud of them. They are saying, when you are here ‘show the spirit of Ukraine’. This tournament is really about the spirit of our country."

Mike Jones17 June 2024 13:50
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Zabarnyi expecting ‘emotional moment’ seeing Ukraine support

Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi said seeing the support for Ukraine in the Allianz Arena for this afternoon’s match against Romania will be an "emotional moment".

"For me, it is a great honour to represent Ukraine," he said, "When you see Ukraine flags in the stadium, when you’re just checking the news, what’s going on at home and you understand how it’s difficult to be there.

"You know what times we are going through now. I feel incredible responsibility for my actions but I’m not worried about my game."

Mike Jones17 June 2024 13:45
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Euro 2024: Romania vs Ukraine LIVE

Ukraine’s eight goals in European Championships have been netted by five different players: Roman Yaremchuk (2), Andriy Yarmolenko (2), Andriy Shevchenko (2), Artem Dovbyk (1) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (1).

Mike Jones17 June 2024 13:40
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Euro 2024: Romania vs Ukraine LIVE

This is Ukraine’s fourth appearance at the European Championship, after Euro 2012 (as co-hosts), Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. Ukraine failed to qualify for the tournament on their first four attempts (1996-2008).

Mike Jones17 June 2024 13:35

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