First big surprise of Euro 2024 is a fact! Slovakia defeats absolute group favorite Belgium 1-0 at Deutsche Bank Arena in Frankfurt.
Ivan Schranz opened the scoring in the seventh minute, and the match will also be remembered for Romelu Lukaku’s two disallowed goals after VAR reviews.
In the other group match, Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 to join Slovakia at the top of Group E.
In the next round, Belgium will play Romania and Ukraine will face Slovakia.
As early as the third minute of the match, we witnessed an extremely clean situation in front of the Slovakian goal. Jeremy Doku shone with an exceptional raid from the center of the pitch and reached the penalty area of the symbolic guests. The ball was delivered into the penalty area, where Romelu Lukaku had a great chance to open the scoring from close range, but his shot was saved by Dubravka.
In the 7th minute, the Belgian players made a mistake in bringing the ball out and were punished. Ivan Schranz took advantage and passed to Bozenik, who shot, but goalkeeper Casteels managed to save, the ball however came back to Schranz, who technically opened the scoring for the “Red Devils”.
In the middle of the first half, the Slovaks made a mistake in playing the ball in defense and Dubravka gave the ball to Leandro Trossard, who tried to find the empty goal from 30 meters out, but his shot went over the crossbar.
Ten minutes before the break, De Bruyne crossed from a corner and Onana headed home, but his effort was too weak and posed no problem for Dubravka.
The Belgian goalkeeper made one of the best saves of Euro 2024 so far just before the break. Kucka advanced down the right flank and crossed dangerously into the “Red Devils” penalty area, and Lukas Haraslin shot on the volley to provoke a brilliant intervention from Koen Casteels.
In the 56th minute, Romelu Lukaku put the ball in the net and threw the Belgians into ecstasy, but it turned out that the striker was in an offside position when Onana passed to him.
Belgium were very close to equalizing in the 62nd minute when Bakayoko received the ball in the penalty area and shot, but defender Hancko managed to clear off the goal line. The defender’s selfless intervention led to an unpleasant collision with his teammate and required the medical team to come on.
Shortly before the end of the match, Lukaku sent the ball into the net for the second time, but this goal was also disallowed. Lewis Openda made a great breakthrough down the left flank to deliver a superb pass to Lukaku, but after VAR intervention it turned out that Openda had touched the ball with his hand and the goal was disallowed.
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