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
19 mins
Slovakia’s first meaningful attack in a while ends with Faes conceding a corner. Haraslin delivers, but Faes heads away.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
16 mins
Almost excellent play as Trossard lays it off to De Bruyne before making the run in behind the defence. De Bruyne almost finds him in the box, but it’s cut out.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
15 mins
Slovakia are looking to counter where possible, and they seem happy to let Belgium have more of the ball.
Jeremy Doku cuts in from the right and shoots, but it’s headed away easily enough. He’s been the bright spark so far, despite his mistake.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
13 mins
First chance for Belgium to swing a set-piece into the box as De Bruyne is fouled around 30 yards out. The City midfielder clips one towards the back post, but neither Onana nor Lukaku can reach it.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
10 mins
Doku tries to make amends immediately but he ends up conceding a foul as he dribbled into the box.
Slovakia try and counter and win a free-kick halfway into the Belgian half.
GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
7 mins
GOAL! And it’s first blood to Slovakia!
Sloppy from Belgium as Doku tries to play out through his own box, and it’s cut out . The original shot is saved by Casteels, but it drops to the feet of Schranz, who hits it back across the ‘keeper and into the far corner!
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-0 Slovakia
5 mins
CLOSE! And again from Belgium! There’s a huge gap in the Slovakia defence and Doku slips a through ball to Lukaku, who tries to round the ‘keeper but his touch is heavy.
It falls to Trossard and he tries to clip it over to De Bruyne, but Dubravka collects.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-0 Slovakia
3 mins
CLOSE!
An early insight into what Doku can do as he spins his man near halfway, beats another challenge and drives into the box. He squares it to De Bruyne, whose half-pass, half-shot lands at the feet of Lukaku, but the striker can’t get enough power on the shot.
Euro 2024: Belgium 0-0 Slovakia
1 min
Sloppy start from Slovakia as they kick it straight out when trying to play out from the back. Early nerves maybe?
Belgium are knocking it around the back in the early stages , with Slovakia pressing high.
Yannik Carrasco is playing as a traditional left-back as the game begins.
KICK-OFF! Belgium 0-0 Slovakia
KICK-OFF! We’re underway in Frankfurt, with Slovakia getting us started in the second game of the day.
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