Euro 2024. Belgium – Slovakia: outcome and report – Eurosport

Belgium weren’t solely the favorites for Monday’s sport in opposition to Slovakia, but in addition – for a lot of observers – the whole match. In spite of everything, that is the third workforce on this planet since 2018, to have been eradicated solely within the quarter-finals of the earlier Euros. The Crimson Devils entered the Euro 2024 qualifiers, scoring 20 factors in eight video games.

On the opposite facet had been the unpopular Slovaks, though they received 7 out of 10 video games of their qualifying group, in second place behind a robust Portugal. Amongst their sequence in opposition to Belgium had been, amongst others: Ondrej Duda (years in the past in Legia Warszawa) and Lukas Haraslin (identified from his performances in Lechia Gdańsk) identified from the Polish premier league .

As anticipated, the Belgians moved ahead from the beginning of the conflict in Frankfurt, creating two harmful probabilities, which had been missed. Within the first act, Romelu Lukaku didn’t precisely succeed. The towering striker scored as much as 14 targets within the qualifying rounds. In whole, earlier than the match, he had already scored 86 targets for the nationwide workforce.

When it seemed like a aim for the Belgians was solely a matter of time, the Slovaks took the lead. Within the seventh minute, Juraj Kucka scored first, after which Ivan Schranz made an accurate rebound. Our southern neighbors fully stunned their rivals with their profitable press.

After dropping the aim, the common-or-garden Belgians continued to attempt to assault, creating a number of good probabilities. Nevertheless, they had been ineffective, for instance when Leandro Trossard missed the aim that the goalkeeper missed.

The energetic Slovaks didn’t simply intend to defend themselves. Within the fortieth minute, Haraslin scored on a volley after a fast assault, and Koen Casteels saved Belgium’s pores and skin with a superb save. In response, Lukaku missed an excellent probability to equalize by getting misplaced in a one-on-one state of affairs with the goalkeeper. No extra targets had been scored to interrupt them.

After the change of sides, the Belgians needed to get all the way down to work. At first, that they had issue constructing duties. Nevertheless, over time the profit was elevated. Lukaku was near happiness once more. First, he missed from shut vary after which his aim was disallowed by VAR video evaluation. In the meantime, Johan Bakayoko’s shot was blocked by David Hancko simply in entrance of the aim line.

Minutes handed and the rating remained unchanged. The Slovaks defended very nicely and had been additionally harmful in assaults.

Within the 86th minute, Lois Openda crossed the ball to Lukaku, who hit the online with an atomic shot. Nevertheless, Belgium’s pleasure was untimely. Openda had performed the ball along with his hand earlier than.

Slovakia’s aim was beneath siege till the tip of the sport. Nevertheless, the outcome didn’t change.

Belgium – Slovakia 0:1 (0:1)