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:
Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE
The anthems are done, the teams are lining up and kick-off is imminent in Frankfurt.
Will Belgium get off to the start they’re expected to?
Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE
Both teams are in the tunnel as we approach kick-off. Kevin De Bruyne is looking especially determined.
We’re lining up for the national anthems.
Match stats and form
Belgium are so far unbeaten in their 14 games under new manager Domenico Tedesco, with 10 wins and four draws.
The Red Devils won both of their warm-up games (3-0 vs Luxembourg and 2-0 vs Montenegro) and drew 2-2 to England and 0-0 to Ireland in two friendlies in March. They finished their qualification campaign with a resounding 5-0 win against Azerbaijan in November 2023.
Slovakia are playing in their third Euros, with their best result coming in their debut at Euro 2016, when they exited at the last 16 stage to Germany.
They won both of their warm-up games 4-0 (against Wales and San Marino respectively), though they lost 2-0 to Austria and drew 1-1 with Norway in their March friendlies.
Last November, they finished their qualification campaign with a 4-2 win against Iceland and a 2-1 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina. They qualified second in their group with 22 points, eight behind group winners Portugal.
Head-to-head and recent tournaments
Belgium and Slovakia have never met in a major tournament, but they have faced each other in three international friendlies.
The Red Devils won the most recent meeting between the sides 2-1 in 2013, with the other two games – in 2006 and 2002 – both ending in a 1-1 draw.
Belgium are looking to build on a disappointing performance at Euro 2020, when they exited at the quarter-final stage at the hands of eventual winners Italy.
Slovakia also took part in that tournament, but were eliminated in the group stages – despite beating Poland 2-1 – after a 5-0 loss to Spain and a 1-0 loss to Sweden.
Belgium vs Slovakia prediction
Belgium click into gear with a convincing win that offers a reminder of their attacking talents, with Trossaard and Lukaku on the scoresheet. Belgium 3-0 Slovakia.
An updated list of the results and reports from Euro 2024 so far.
Friday, June 14
Group A, Munich: Germany 5-1 Scotland
June 15
Group A, Cologne: Hungary 1-3 Switzerland
Group B, Berlin: Spain 3-0 Croatia
Group B, Dortmund: Italy 2-1 Albania
June 16
Group D, Hamburg: Poland 1-2 Netherlands
Group C, Stuttgart: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
Group C, Gelsenkirchen: Serbia 0-1 England
June 17
Group E, Munich: Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Is Belgium vs Slovakia on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online tonight
Looking to the second game of the day, Belgium face Slovakia in Frankfurt in the second game of Group E.
The fixture will kick off at 5pm BST, and it will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV X, with coverage starting from 4:15pm. You can find a full list of which channel is showing each match here.
Is Belgium vs Slovakia on TV? Channel, time and how to watch tonight
Romelu Lukaku was the top scorer in qualifying as a star-studded attack takes on Slovakia in their Group E opener
Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE
Belgium are ready to start their Euros campaign!
Radu Dragusin, Romania’s defensive pillar at Euro 2024 - who Tottenham fans haven’t seen yet
Unbeaten in qualifying, perhaps there shouldn’t be quite so much surprise over Romania’s thumping victory over Ukraine.
The Tricolorii scored both well-worked and thunderously-hit strikes, claimed a 3-0 win in Group E and got themselves off to a magnificent start at Euro 2024, already a huge step towards the knockouts taken - something they’ve not managed since Euro 2000.
And yet for all the explosive nature of both goals and celebrations, Romania’s biggest strength in qualifying was one they showed again here in less obvious terms: their defensive resolve and organisation.
Radu Dragusin, Romania’s defensive pillar - who Tottenham fans haven’t seen yet
The giant centre-back has hardly been seen at Spurs but played a big part in a Romania clean sheet
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