Slovakia pulled off their first upset of Euro 2024 when Ivan Schranz scored a 1-0 win over Belgium on Monday. Francesco Calzona's aspect are 45 locations under third-placed Belgium in FIFA's world rankings. However they made a mockery of the perceived high quality hole between the groups with a brave show in Frankfurt. Calzona, who additionally served as Napoli's interim boss within the second half of final season, admitted he would have been “pleased” with a draw. The Italians achieved greater than that they had thought as Schranz shocked Belgium by ending his nine-game worldwide objective drought.
Romelu Lukaku missed a number of probabilities for Belgium and his last-minute equaliser was controversially dominated out by VAR.
Slovakia's sudden win utterly modified Group E, after Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 in one other match in the identical pool simply hours earlier.
It was a bitter defeat for Belgium, who as soon as once more are at risk of failing to reside as much as their potential at a significant match.
Belgium's golden technology has misplaced its sheen following their exit within the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
The Crimson Devils had misplaced within the quarter-finals within the earlier two editions of the European Championship, making a third-place end on the 2018 World Cup the very best achievement for a gifted however underachieving staff that was as soon as seen as a possible dynasty.
Dominic Tedesco was appointed in February 2023, changing Roberto Martinez, and led Belgium to a 14-match unbeaten streak on the Euro Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne has insisted he is able to do “one thing good” in Germany earlier than the transfer was introduced as a last push for the skilled Belgian stars.
However as an alternative they reverted to their outdated model and produced a efficiency that put immense strain on them to beat Romania of their different group match on Saturday.
Taking part in in Belgium's document eleventh match at main tournaments, Lukaku ought to have scored his 86th objective for his nation in simply the second minute.
Jeremy Doku turned cleverly on the half-line and accelerated into the Slovakia penalty space, the place his cross was headed house by De Bruyne in direction of Lukaku.
Lukaku would have scored, however his close-range effort went straight into the fingers of Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
They attacked once more moments later however had been pushed away, permitting Doku's go to move in direction of objective.
Slovakia punished Lukaku's profligacy by taking the lead within the seventh minute.
Doku mistimed his go whereas making an attempt to clear the ball, permitting Robert Bojanic to cleverly backheel the ball in direction of Juraj Kucka.
Koen Casteels saved Kucka's shot however might do nothing on the rebound as Schranz scored from an acute angle.
Lukaku had a poor night as he as soon as once more missed an important probability from Yannick Carrasco's raking go.
Belgium's distress worsened within the 56th minute when Lukaku was held up by Dubravka's near-post save.
From the ensuing nook, Amadou Onana hit a header over Dubravka and Lukaku slid in to attain from a yard out, however his celebrations had been curtailed as VAR dominated him offside.
Belgium occupied the Slovakia objective, however Dubravka saved effectively from Trossard and Lukaku put the ball into the side-netting earlier than Johan Bakayoko's shot was cleared off the road by David Hancko.
To cap a forgettable day for Belgium, Lukaku scored within the 86th minute however the objective was disallowed for a handball by Lois Openda.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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