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
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:
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
65 mins
Hancko is okay to carry on, and play resumes with Belgium attacking once more after Bozinik gives it away.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
60 mins
As that VAR check was ongoing, Johan Bakayoko replaced Mangala.
And the PSV winger has a chance almost right away! Doku delivers another ball across the area which Dubravka pushes straight to Bakayoko, who’s standing near the penalty spot. He gets it out from under his feet and hits a shot which has beaten the ‘keeper, but Hancko is on the line to clear it away!
The defender stays down briefly – his head crashed against Vavro’s knee as he cleared it.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
61 mins
Another dangerous ball across goal by Doku, and this one is cleared behind for a corner, which Belgium can’t create an opportunity from,
Moments later, De Bruyne clips a ball towards Lukaku at the far post, but he volleys into the side-netting after the clearing header falls to him!
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
59 mins
Belgium looked buoyed after that disallowed goal, and they come again. Trossard unleashes a shot from the right, but Dubravka saves.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
57 mins
The goal is chalked off after a brief VAR check! Lukaku had just strayed offside as Onana got his head to it.
Still 1-0 to Slovakia!
GOAL! Belgium 1-1 Slovakia
56 mins
GOAL! Belgium equalise!
De Bruyne takes a short corner to Trossard, who clips it to the back post. Onana heads it back across goal to Lukaku, who is unmarked, and he bundles it in!
There’s a VAR check for offside though! Lukaku looks off...
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
54 mins
Both sides have continued to give away possession needlessly at times so far this half, but on this occasion Doku does well to retain the ball and sweep it on to De Bruyne. He tries to release Trossard in the box, but it’s cut out.
Moments later, Lukaku has a chance as he’s played in on the right of the box, but it’s saved behind for a corner.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
51 mins
Sloppy from Faes as he gives it straight to Slovakia in the Belgium half, but Onana does well to sniff out the danger.
Slovakia come again and Vavro shoots from distance, but it bounces wide.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
49 mins
Doku does well to release Carrasco down the left, but the full-back wastes his attempted pass into the box.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
47 mins
Doku nips in to win the ball before exchanging passes with De Bruyne, but he’s tackled in the box.
Slovakia counter, and Haraslin cuts inside from the left before curling an effort wide of the far post.
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