Despite two canceled goals from Romelu Lukaku, Belgium was defeated when it entered the competition in Euro 2024, against Slovakia. The Devils only played one half… and were also unlucky.
Monday June 17, 6:00 p.m. Belgium truly launches its Euro 2024, in Frankfurt, against Slovakia. In the composition department, Yannick Carrasco takes his place in the defensive line, on the left. The midfield is as expected, Trossard starts on the left wing, Doku on the right. A tactical surprise… which absolutely won’t work.
However, the Devils’ start to the match is good. It only took Doku three minutes to confuse Hancko before slipping to De Bruyne, who himself handed it over to Lukaku. At point blank range, the AS Roma striker finds Dubravka for the first time (3rd). A few moments later, it was Onana who found Lukaku in the depths. Dubravka comes out, Big Rom’ extends for Trossard, whose cross is captured by the Slovak goalkeeper, back in position (6th).
Seven minutes, like in Belo Horizonte…
The golden generation began their first major tournament, the 2014 World Cup, with a goal conceded after seven minutes against Algeria, from the foot of Sofiane Feghouli, from the penalty spot. Bis repeated this evening, except that, this time, it is on a return to touch… in his favor that Belgium will be surprised.
Nobody is going to help Castagne, right next to his corner post, except Doku. The Manchester City player quibbles before trying to serve Faes. The ball arrives directly at the feet of Schranz, who backheels. Casteels makes a first save, but the same Schranz is in the right place to open the scoring (0-1, 7th).
The Devils are amorphous, it won’t work for Lukaku
The Devils can’t do it. Yannick Carrasco is restricted, Leandro Trossard is completely out of his depth, Debast, on his bad foot, cannot use his long game as he would like, Lukaku is wasteful… Trossard too, even when the goal is empty or almost thanks to the good pressing of De Bruyne on a restart from Dubravka (21st).
Big Rom’, magnificently launched by Carrasco, misses a new possibility at the end of the period (42nd). The Devils had chances, but against generous, well-organized and efficient Slovaks, we cannot say that their deficit at rest came out of nowhere. A few moments earlier, Koen Casteels had produced a classy save, otherwise the score would have even been 0-2.
Surprisingly, Domenico Tedesco doesn’t make a change while resting. An adaptation, however. Doku takes his place on the left, Trossard on the right. And it’s already a little better. Two small chances, in quick succession, then a good cross from Trossard, at the far post, for Onana. The Everton midfielder is handed over for Lukaku, who scores… in an offside position. The goal is canceled by the VAR (56th).
Belgium really starts to push and presses where it hurts. The speed of the Devils hampers Slovakia, Leandro Trossard gives way to Johan Bakayoko. In the process, Lukaku misses another big opportunity by finding the small net (62nd).
A few seconds later, Doku once again confuses the defense, his cross is deflected by Dubravka. Bakayoko is in the right place, but his shot is stopped on the line by Hancko (63rd). The defender remains on the ground for two minutes, like every Slovak with every slightest contact.
After a strong start to the second half, the Devils calmed down. Slovakia managed to cut Belgium’s rhythm… then set its own. Strelec, on his first touch of the ball, is not that far from doubling the lead… with a backheel (76th).
And when it doesn’t…
Having just entered the game, Loïs Openda accelerates, puts down his direct opponent and crosses for Lukaku, at the penalty spot. Romelu scores for the second time, but his goal is canceled again. This time, it was Openda who deflected the ball with his hand while controlling it. When it doesn’t want to… (87th).
The wheel will definitely not turn. Belgium is beaten at the start of this Euro 2024, by a Slovakia which will have done what was necessary, in the first period, before uniting, and completely refusing the game in the second. We will absolutely have to wake up so as not to experience a hellish European Championship. Belgium – Slovakia, 0-1!
