Belgium Stunned in Shock Euro 2024 Defeat Against Slovakia
In a surprising turn of events at the European Championship, Belgium suffered a 1-0 defeat to Slovakia. The match, held at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, saw Romelu Lukaku play a central role, but unfortunately for the wrong reasons. Despite having several scoring opportunities and two goals disallowed by the VAR, Lukaku and his team failed to meet high expectations.
Belgium, coached by Domenico Tedesco, now faces the daunting possibility of early elimination. This stunning defeat mirrors their premature exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Football stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku were left visibly frustrated as their efforts fell short. "The second half was much better. We overcame the tempo. We could have scored goals, but we didn't. We deserved to win," De Bruyne lamented.
The match featured significant controversy, particularly surrounding the referee's decisions that disallowed two of Lukaku’s goals. The first was called offside, while the second was annulled due to a handball by Leipzig's Lois Openda. "I do think that the hand goes out very far, but of course it is not really intentional. Bitter for the Belgians, but for me a justifiable decision," said former referee Manuel Gräfe on ZDF.
Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz scored the decisive goal early in the 7th minute, capitalizing on a series of errors by the Belgian defense. Despite Belgium's relentless attacks in the second half, the Slovakian defense, bolstered by Skriniar and Vavro, stood firm, frustrating Tedesco's hope for a comeback.
For Tedesco, this defeat marked his first game as coach at a major tournament, a significant blow considering the high hopes following his appointment in February 2023. Belgium's defensive instability, exacerbated by the absence of key players Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, and Jan Vertonghen, was evident throughout the match.
Michael Ballack, speaking at halftime on MagentaTV, was critical of Belgium's performance, stating, "I wonder how strong this Belgian team is. They need to wake up. So far, all areas of the team have been in a deep sleep." Despite a more aggressive second half, Belgium’s fate was sealed, and Slovakia celebrated an unexpected triumph, enhancing their chances of advancing to the round of 16.
- Belgium's next challenge will be against group leaders Romania on Saturday in Cologne. An early defeat places them under immense pressure to secure a win. Slovakia, on the other hand, will face Ukraine on Friday, entering the match with high spirits following their victory.
- Romelu Lukaku’s missed chances and disallowed goals were emblematic of Belgium's rough night. His frustration was evident as he stood apart from his teammates at the end of the match. The experienced striker's thwarted efforts highlight the struggles Belgium faces in converting chances into goals.
- Slovakia’s triumph marks their first victory against Belgium in four encounters. The historic win has revitalized their campaign and instilled confidence as they set their sights on further success in the tournament.
- For Belgium, immediate focus shifts to mitigating their defensive vulnerabilities and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Coach Domenico Tedesco faces a critical task in reinvigorating the team's performance as they aim to recover from this early setback.
