Belgium asserted their credentials at Euro 2024 with a 2-0 victory over Romania in an open match in Cologne.
Kevin De Bruyne sealed the match for The Purple Devils with a poached objective 10 minutes from time, in a match through which Belgium missed a number of probabilities.
For the third time within the match Romelu Lukaku had a objective disallowed, and he and his team-mates noticed a number of different probabilities saved by Florin Nita. De Bruyne and substitute Leandro Trossard had been additionally wasteful in taking part in passes to open gamers.
Dennis Man had Romania’s finest likelihood within the second half, which was smothered by Koen Casteels.
It was Tielemans that gave Belgium the lead after simply 75 seconds, when he walked onto a lay-off by Lukaku to crash a low drive previous Nita.
The objective was the third quickest within the historical past of the European Championship.
The consequence implies that all 4 groups in Group E now have three factors, with the remaining fixtures to be performed on Wednesday.
TALKING POINT – One final flicker from the Golden Era?
For such a honored group of gamers, Belgium’s report at worldwide tournaments within the final decade has been poor. One third-placed end on the World Cup is all they’ve to point out for all of the hype.
After the shock of a defeat to Slovakia of their opening match, it regarded like they could meekly depart the worldwide stage at an early juncture as soon as extra. In Cologne they fired again with a vibrant efficiency in probably the most entertaining matches of the match.
It’s a foothold at Euro 2024 for them, and maybe a base camp for one ultimate yahoo at a significant trophy for his or her thirtysomething stars. Jan Vertonghen slotted into defence effortlessly, whereas De Bruyne turned within the type of efficiency we see frequently for Manchester Metropolis. And if their report scorer Romelu Lukaku can keep simply the best facet of the offside line and switch his private fortunes round, they’ll nonetheless be a handful.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
His objective – a toe-poked, first-time end after a flick on from a protracted ball – induced a double take, however nothing else about his recreation did. He ran the Belgian midfield and the tempo of the sport all night time, and his objective capped a high-quality efficiency.
PLAYER RATINGS
Belgium: Casteels 7; Castagne 7, Vertonghen 7, Faes 6, Theate 6; Onana 6, Tielemans 7, De Bruyne 8; Lukebakio 7, Lukaku 7, Doku 7
SUBS: Trossard 5, Carrasco 7, Mangala 6, Debast 6
Romania: Nita 7; Ratiu 5, Dragusin 6, Burca 7, Bancu 6; Marius Marin 6, Razvan Marin 6, Stanciu 5; Man 7, Dragus 5, Mihaila 7
SUBS: Hagi 7, Olaru 6, Alivec 6, Sorescu 6
Matchcast: Full match stats and commentary (hyperlink)
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
2′ GOAL! BELGIUM 1 (TIELEMANS 2) ROMANIA 0 What a begin – after simply 75 seconds, Belgium lead! They arrive flying out of the traps and win the ball excessive, with Doku discovering Lukaku to ft within the space. Lukaku touches it off to Tielemans on the sting, who crashes a low drive previous Nita. That is a fantastic thing about a objective.
58′ CHANCE! Oh my. Belgium win it excessive once more, and Lukaku feeds De Bruyne in acres on the left. Doku is free on the again put up and it seems a easy ball, however De Bruyne places simply an excessive amount of on it and it slides previous Doku. Will Belgium remorse that?
63′ DISALLOWED GOAL! Oh my days. Belgium win the ball within the centre circle, and De Bruyne splits the defence with a beautiful cross to place Lukaku clear via. Lukaku tucks the ball previous Nita and into the underside nook, however grasp on…it is chalked for offside! That regarded so tight, and it is now a hat trick of disallowed objectives for Lukaku at Euro 2024.
68′ HUGE CHANCE! Man is clear via for Romania! He squares up Casteels, one on one…and he is put it straight into the goalkeeper’s stomach! That is an enormous miss.
80′ GOAL! BELGIUM 2 (DE BRUYNE 80) ROMANIA 0 Recreation finished, absolutely. Lukaku flicks on a protracted clearance from Casteels, and it runs via to De Bruyne within the space. De Bruyne toe pokes it previous Casteels as the 2 fly in the direction of one another, and after a VAR examine for offside it stands!
