Euro 2024 | Belgium revives by beating Romania 2-0

(Cologne) 2-0 winner over Romania, Belgium kept all its chances of qualifying for the round of 16 of Euro-2024 on Saturday, but its lack of efficiency remains a major obstacle to its ambitions, with a new goal refused to Romelu Lukaku by the VAR.

With four teams on three points, this group E is the most uncertain of all.

But the goal differences still place the Romanians, winners of Ukraine 3-0 on the first day, in the lead, followed by the Belgians, the Slovaks then the Ukrainians.

The final day, Wednesday, with Slovakia-Romania in Frankfurt and Belgium-Ukraine in Stuttgart, promises to be thrilling.

The Red Devils, who would have been on the verge of elimination in the event of another setback after their inaugural defeat against the Slovaks (1-0), started the match with a bang by opening the score after 73 seconds of play.

On the left side, Jérémy Doku found Romelu Lukaku with his back to goal and the latter’s throw-back was taken without control by Youri Tielemans to cross a forest of legs and deceive Florin Nita (1-0, 2^e).

This 3^e The fastest goal in Euro history put an end to more than 300 minutes of offensive sterility in the final phase for the Belgians.

The Aston Villa player, who was only a substitute against Slovakia, returning from an adductor injury, was also sparkling in a completely controlled first act.

Lukaku the cursed

But despite almost constant domination, we had to wait for a long clearance from Koen Casteels unintentionally extended by a Romanian defender with a header to see Kevin de Bruyne, with a furious tackle, really free his team, ten minutes from time (2 -0.80^e).

Already deprived of two goals by VAR against Slovakia, Romelu Lukaku had to become disillusioned again shortly after the hour mark due to an offside of a phalanx and a half on an opening from “KDB” (63^e). For the moment, with zero goals validated, he remains the antihero of this Euro.

If the accounting operation is good, coach Domenico Tedesco and his staff will undoubtedly have some small reservations about their team’s performance, especially in front of goal.

The match was studded with chances for the Belgians.

Dodi Lukébakio (18^e), Jan Vertonghen (19^e), Jérémy Doku (31^e63^e), De Bruyne (52^e55^e) or Lukaku (66^e89^e) have all wasted great opportunities either by lack of precision or by finding Nita on their way.

A non-imperial defense

Such a waste, which cost them dearly against the Slovaks, will not be able to last in the knockout phase if they want to do better than their quarter-finalist status of the last two editions.

Likewise, if the defense has found its pillar Jan Vertonghen, author of an excellent return on Andrei Ratiu (59^e) and her left side Arthur Theate, she was sometimes pushed to her limits by the Romanians.

Casteels, promoted to the starting position after the sidelining of Thibaut Courtois by Tedesco, justified the confidence of the Italian-German with a beautiful flight on a header from Radu Dragusin (5^e) or by intervening in front of Dennis Man (68^e).

Valentin Mihaila, who started from the central circle, but whose shot flew away (48^e) and an intervention by Timothy Castagne on his line to avoid a reduction in the score (85^e) also sent shivers down the spines of Red Devils supporters.

But their team at least now has its destiny in its hands.