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
38 mins
Slovakia win another cheap corner, and Duda delivers it, but Castagne heads clear.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
37 mins
De Bruyne swings in the corner and Onana meets it around seven yards out, but he can only direct it straight at Dubravka.
Hancko is okay to come back on.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
35 mins
Doku wins a corner after beating Hancko on the outside and trying to clip in a cross. Hancko stays down after sliding in, and he’ll need some treatment.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
33 mins
Lukaku receives the ball with his back to goal and tries to scoop it through to De Bruyne, but it’s intercepted.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
31 mins
Belgium have some defending to do as Slovakia keep possession, but Castagne does well to block the cross. Slovakia come again, with Haraslin laying it to Bozenik on the edge of the box, but the latter’s shot is tame and straight at Casteels.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
30 mins
Some decent attacking intent from Belgium but Trossard’s pass to Mangala is poor, and the latter is booked after fouling Haraslin.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
28 mins
Pekarik goes straight through the back of Trossard on halfway, but he avoids the booking. Belgium recycle possession, but Carrasco’s ball over the top is cut out.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
25 mins
Onana loses the ball twice in midfield, but he’s lucky that Slovakia can’t capitalise. There’s been plenty of sloppy passes and poor decision-making by both sides in possession.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
23 mins
Slovakia’s attacking has been a little disjointed at times, with Haraslin the latest example as he spins his marker and tries to play the ball behind the defence, but the strikers had dropped in.
Soon after, Bozenik tries the shot from distance but it’s blocked.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
21 mins
CLOSE! Dubravka receives the ball near the edge of his box, and he’s being closed down by De Bruyne. He panics and pokes it straight to Trossard, but the Arsenal man can’t get the right connection on his attempted lob, and it loops over.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments