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:
Fans and players alike are getting ready for Belgium vs Slovakia...
FT Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Here’s a look at Razvan Marin’s strike which gave Romania a two-goal cushion versus Ukraine:
FT Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Romania have earned their biggest ever victory in a major tournament (World Cup/Euros), while their 29% possession is the lowest on record (since 1980) for a winning side in a match at the European Championship.
FT Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Dennis Man is the first Romanian player with 2+ assists in a single match at a major tournament since Gheorghe Hagi against Colombia in the 1994 World Cup.
Line-ups
BELGIUM XI: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Debat, Carrasco; Mangala, Onana; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; Lukaku.
SUBS: Kaminski, Sels, Bakayoko, De Cuyper, De Ketelaere, Lukebakio, Openda, Theate, Tielemans, Vermeeren, Vranckx, Vertonghen, Witsel.
SLOVAKIA XI: Dúbravka; Pekarík, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Bozeník, Haraslín.
Full-time! Romania 3-0 Ukraine
90+4 mins: The whistle goes to end a wonderful match for Romania. They’ve come to Munich and blown Ukraine out of the water continuing their fine form from Euro 2024 qualifying.
Goals for Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus gave the Romanians a comfortable margin of victory and puts down a marker that they mean business in this tournament.
It was a disappointing day out for Ukraine who need to bounce back quickly ahead of their next match versus Slovakia.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
87 mins: A corner ball for Ukraine is whipped in to the near post where Puscas leaps for the header. He flicks it on and almost turns it into his own net.
The ball goes out for a second corner instead but Mudryk’s delivery is cleared this time.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
84 mins: Romania’s next match is against Belgium which could decide if they make it into the last-16. If they avoid losing there then they are sure to book a spot in the knockouts.
Based on their performance today, it’s not unreasonable to think they could challenge for the win too.
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