Two goals disallowed

Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE from 6pm

Slovakia have beaten Belgium.

(Bild: AFP/APA/JAVIER SORIANO)

Belgium's start to the European Championships in Group E ended in a 1-0 defeat against Slovakia. Ivan Schranz scored the golden goal of the game in the seventh minute. Belgium had numerous chances that were not taken. Striker Romelu Lukaku was very unlucky. Two of his goals were disallowed after a VAR check. 

Slovakia caused the first surprise at the European Football Championship in Germany. Coach Francesco Calzona's team celebrated a 1:0 (1:0) victory over Belgium in Group E in Frankfurt on Monday. Ivan Schranz's goal gave the underdogs an early boost (7th) and they managed to hold on to their narrow lead with a strong performance and some luck. The Slovaks finished three points behind Romania, who had beaten Ukraine 3-0, in the table.

Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco exercised caution in central defense and left the recently injured Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate on the bench. Instead, the 20-year-old Zeno Debast and Wout Faes came in. However, the opening phase was dominated by Jeremy Doku. The Manchester City winger powered his way down the right in the third minute, fed Kevin De Bruyne, who in turn passed to Romelu Lukaku. However, the striker failed to beat goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from a few meters out.

A short time later, Doku made it 1:0, but on the wrong side of the box. The 22-year-old made a bad mistake in his own penalty area and his cross-field pass landed with Schranz, who played in Juraj Kucka with his heel. Koen Casteels parried the latter's shot to the side, where Schranz scored from an acute angle (7'). That was the end of the Belgians' momentum, the Slovaks played boldly forward with the lead behind them.

Trossard also fails to score
However, Dubravka almost did the underdogs a disservice. Instead of clearing uncompromisingly, the keeper lost the ball, but Leandro Trossard failed to take advantage of the gift and shot over the empty goal (21'). Nevertheless, Calzona's side were now the better team and almost went one better. On the counter-attack, Kucka served the ball to Lukas Haraslin, who shot on the volley from the edge of the box. Casteels made a great reflex save at the highest level (40'). At the other end, Lukaku stumbled in a promising position (42').

In the second half, the "Red Devils" initially needed ten minutes to develop pressure, but then opened up a ten-minute powerplay with numerous shooting opportunities. First, Dubravka kept the upper hand against Lukaku (55'). The subsequent corner brought the supposed equalizer, but Lukaku's goal from Amadou Onana's header was very slightly offside (56').

Belgium already under pressure
Trossard (59'), Lukaku (61') and substitute Johan Bakayoko (62') now missed chances by the minute. The latter failed with a clearance from defender David Hancko, who was standing on the line. Slovakia then regained some order in the game and began to launch attacks to relieve pressure.

In the final phase, another Lukaku goal did not count, the AS Roma striker scoring after Lois Openda's assist (86'). However, Openda, who is a Leipzig international, was guilty of a handball. De Bruyne missed the last chance (92').

Slovakia now face Ukraine, who are still without points, in Düsseldorf on Friday (3pm). Schranz and Co. can secure their place in the round of 16 with a win. The Belgians have one more day to recover, as they face the Romanians in Cologne on Saturday (9pm) and are already under pressure.