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The Euro 2024 saw its first major shock as Slovakia secured a stunning 1-0 victory over Belgium in their Group E match on Monday, June 17.
Slovakia stun Belgium
The pivotal moment arrived early when Ivan Schranz exploited a defensive mistake to give Slovakia the lead in the seventh minute. The Slovak team then showcased staunch defense and relentless determination to withstand Belgium's continuous onslaught at the Frankfurt Arena.
Belgium's star striker Romelu Lukaku experienced frustration as he found himself in promising scoring positions several times throughout the game but failed to capitalize. Lukaku thought he had equalized in the 55th minute, but a VAR review a minute later disallowed the goal for offside, identifying that Lukaku was in an offside position when Onana headed the ball to him following a Leandro Trossard corner.
The Red Devils thought they had snatched a late equalizer when Lukaku fired the ball into the net in the 86th minute. However, another VAR intervention, this time using Snickometer technology, indicated that Luis Openda had committed a handball just before Lukaku's strike. Consequently, this goal was also annulled. Despite scoring twice, Lukaku saw both efforts negated by VAR decisions.
The first goal was disallowed for offside in the 56th minute, and the second was nullified in the closing moments of the game due to a handball by Lois Openda. Despite dominating possession and creating multiple scoring opportunities, Belgium could not penetrate Slovakia's robust defense, which included an exceptional performance from their goalkeeper and a solid backline. This result catapults Slovakia to the top of Group E, sharing the spot with Romania, who defeated Ukraine 3-0 on the same day. Slovakia's unexpected win adds an exciting twist to the group dynamics, heightening the competition as the tournament advances. Belgium, considered one of the favorites before the tournament, must quickly regroup and revise their approach to avoid further disappointments in their pursuit of Euro 2024 success.
Romania celebrate first European Championship win in 24 years
Romania achieved their first victory at a major international tournament in 24 years by defeating Ukraine 3-0 at Euro 2024, with two goalkeeper errors from Andriy Lunin contributing to the loss. Captain Nicolae Stanciu opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike, energized by the overwhelming support from the Munich crowd during their Group E debut. Romania then intensified the pressure with Razvan Marin’s distant shot slipping under Lunin, followed by Denis Dragus converting a close-range effort for the third goal, creating a challenging start for Ukraine in the tournament with upcoming matches against Slovakia and Belgium.
The Ukrainian team entered the field draped in national flags, marking their first major tournament appearance since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. Having missed the World Cup two years prior, Ukraine managed a fourth consecutive Euro appearance despite the ongoing conflict, the largest in Europe since World War II.
Ukraine had a strong showing three years ago, reaching the quarter-finals under Andriy Shevchenko, but circumstances have drastically changed with Serhiy Rebrov now leading the team amidst the country's war-torn conditions. Rebrov emphasized that participating in the tournament in Germany, a refuge for over a million Ukrainians, was a significant step for the nation.
He shared that he had received numerous messages of support from Ukrainians, including those on the front lines, urging his team to embody the Ukrainian spirit during these difficult times.
Romania, who had been unbeaten in qualifying but without a win in four matches this year, marked a triumphant return to the international stage after missing Euro 2020. Their last win at this level was during their quarter-final run at Euro 2000.
The match saw Ukraine struggle early in the warm conditions at the Allianz Arena, culminating in a costly error by Lunin that led to Stanciu’s impressive 20-yard goal. Despite immediate consolation from teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko, Lunin faced continued threats, nearly conceding again to Stanciu from a corner.
After surviving several near misses, including a deflected shot and a corner that hit the bar, Lunin was outpaced by Marin’s low drive early in the second half. Dragus sealed the win soon after, capitalizing on a cleverly executed short corner routine.
Romania's goalkeeper, Florin Nita, made crucial saves late in the game, while a lob from substitute Roman Yaremchuk narrowly missed, summing up a forgettable day for Ukraine.
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