BELGIUM have beaten Group E rivals Romania 2-0 after a dominant performance in Cologne.
Youri Tielemans bagged a stunning opener seconds into the game to give Domenico Tedesco’s side the lead.
Kevin De Bruyne sealed the win for Belgium with 10 minutes to go as the Red Devils claimed their first three points of Euro 2024.
- Match result: Belgium 2-0 Romania
- Belgium team: Casteels, Theate, Vertonghen, Faes, Castagne, Onana, Tielemans, De Bruyne, Doku, Lukaku, Lukebakio
- Romania team: Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; M.Marin, R.Marin, Stanciu; Man, Dragus, Mihaila
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That’s all from Cologne
And that’s all for matchday two!
It’s the end of the afternoon kick-offs at Euro 2024, but we now head for the final round group games we are still no closer to knowing many of the teams that will make up the Last 16.
That’s none more the case than in Group E where all four sides have three points following Belgium’s beating of Romania.
The focus turns to Scotland, who take on Hungary tomorrow. Only a win will do for Steve Clarke’s men, and we’ll by in Stuttgart to cheer them on.
Until then, thanks for joining us and goodnight.
Left flagging! Lukaku curse continues
Romelu Lukaku has now had more goals disallowed at Euro 2024 than the top scorers have netted.
Tonight’s effort was arguably the tightest call of the three too, the striker’s knee and big toe adjudged to have been ahead of the last defender before he slammed home brilliantly.
Match stats from Cologne Stadium
No player on the pitch had more shots (7), shots on target (3), made more tackles (4) or won more fouls (4) than Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne.
E sees four squeezed together
After Belgium’s win in Cologne this evening, all four nations in Group E are locked together on three points apiece.
It means that for the first time in the history of the European Championship group stage, all four teams in a single group will be level on points going into the final round of matches.
Anything could still happen. Anyone could still top it.
- Slovakia v Romania (Wednesday, 5pm)
- Ukraine v Belgium (Wednesday, 5pm)
Credit: uefa.com Full time – Belgium 2-0 Romania
Szymon Marciniak brings a brilliant football match in Cologne to an end.
Belgium have bounced back from defeat to Slovakia to see off Romania thanks to an early strike from Youri Tielemans inside 73 seconds, and a late goal from Kevin De Bruyne.
Belgium 2-0 Romania
90. The board goes up to signal four minutes of stoppage time.
It’s enough time for another Romania substitution – Deian Sorescu for Andrei Ratiu – and another Lukaku mishap, as he fails to play De Bruyne in early.
Belgium 2-0 Romania
89. Poor old Romelu Lukaku.
He does everything right here, using pace and power to Andrei Burca and shoot fiercely across goal.
It’s just unfortunate for the striker that Florin Nita is equal to it with an excellent stop with his right foot.
Belgium 2-0 Romania
87. Leandro Trossard has achieved the impossible – he’s sent Ally McCoist into a rage.
Twice in the matter of moments, the Arsenal forward escapes on the right with teammates unmarked in the middle.
On both occasions, Trossard hangs on to the ball too long and then makes the wrong decision. Awful, awful play from the substitute.
Belgium 2-0 Romania
85. Romania almost pull one back after further slack defending from Wout Faes.
The centre-back allows Denis Alibec to sneak in to the box and poke past Koen Casteels with only alert play from Timothy Castagne keeping the ball from the back of the net.
Belgium 2-0 Romania
84. It should be three!
De Bruyne finds Trossard on the right, the substitute moves in on the keeper and spots Lukaku in space.
All he needs to do is square the ball, but somehow he gets it wrong and passes straight to a defender.
Belgium 2-0 Romania – Romania substitution
82. Following the goal, Romania change send on striker Denis Alibec in a like-for-like for Denis Dragus.
Dragus will have a big role to play in Romania’s final group game.
Belgium 2-0 Romania
80. Kevin De Bruyne seals victory for Belgium!
It’s perhaps the most un-Kevin De Bruyne goal you’re ever likely to see, more reminiscent of 1980s Wimbledon than the world class playmaker.
Koen Casteels’ long punt forward is flicked on by Romelu Lukaku, and the Manchester City midfielder races through to steer beyond Florin Nita.
To the naked eye, De Bruyne looks much more offside than Lukaku was for the disallowed effort, but it doesn’t take long for VAR to green light the goal.
The Red Devils have arrived at Euro 2024!
Game over!
Belgium 1-0 Romania
78. Just over ten minutes remain, and this one is still in the balance.
Belgium 1-0 Romania – Belgium substitution
76. Another change for the Red Devils.
Belgium 1-0 Romania
74. Razvan Marin tries his luck with a speculative effort.
That’s not one to trouble either Koen Casteels in the Belgium goal, nor the replay operatives in VT.
Belgium 1-0 Romania – Belgium double substitution
71. Another two changes for Belgium sees goalscorer Youri Tielemans and the dangerous Jeremy Doku depart to great acclaim.
Orel Mangala and Yannick Carrasco come on to play their part.
Belgium 1-0 Romania – Romania double substitution
69. Edward Iordanescu rolls the dice…
…and calls for Ianis Hagi and Darius Olaru.
The pair replace the booked Marius Marin and Valentin Mihaila.
Belgium 1-0 Romania
67. Huge chance for Dennis Man!
Romania finally break the Belgian backline with the Parma man – Man – in ahead of the dawdling Wout Faes.
On his right foot, the Romanian only has Casteels to beat but drills his shot straight at the goalkeeper.
They won’t get (m)any better chances than that.
Belgium 1-0 Romania – Marius Marin yellow card
65. The most obvious yellow card you’ll see this summer.
Marus Marin fails to keep pace with an accelerating Kevin De Bruyne and so simply hauls the midfielder back with both arms.
Belgium 1-0 Romania
63. Romelu Lukaku has his goal!
After his two disallowed strikes against Slovakia, the Belgian forward finishes Kevin De Bruyne’s through ball with aplomb to double Belgium’s lead.
The Red Devils celebrate wildly, and will be moving level with the other three teams in Group F on three points.
But wait! Oh no!
The word comes through that Lukaku – who had appeared to time his run perfectly – was offside. It’s not going to count!
Never mind it not being his day, it’s not the striker’s summer.
Belgium 1-0 Romania – Bancu yellow card
61. Trossard’s first involvement in the game is to be booted up in the air by Nicusor Bancu.
As a result, the Romania defender has his name taken by the referee.
Belgium 1-0 Romania
60. Chance for Romania! Wonderful defending from Vertonghen!
Right-back Ratui pops up in the Belgium penalty area to control a clever pass, and looks primed to fire the Tricolours level.
Until, that is, Belgium’s wily old defender bursts across to mop up.
Belgium 1-0 Romania
58. Belgium want that second!
Doku fails to finish off a move that he started, failing to read De Bruyne’s floated cross from the left.
Moments later, Lukaku meets a drifted free-kick on the half-volley at the near post, but without the pace to trouble Nita.
Belgium 1-0 Romania
56. Belgium do make a chance but it’s Dodo Lukebakio coming off rather than Jeremy Doku.
Leandro Trossard is the replacement coming on, and the Arsenal man will likely take up position on the right flank.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
