The first day of the year ends Group E of the European Football Championships after the early afternoon match which saw Romania dominate over Ukraine. At Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt Surprisingly, Slovakia manages to beat Belgium 1-0 at the end of a daring match in which the Red Devils were unable to exploit (even with a bit of bad luck) all the offensive skills available.
First half sees emotions from the first minutes. After one hundred and twenty seconds Romelu Lukaku sensationally missed the goal in the middle of the penalty area with his right foot. Slovakia takes advantage and takes the lead in the 7th minute: mess in the Red Devils’ rearguard, former Milan midfielder Kucka shoots, Casteels clears but then can’t do anything about Schranz’s tap-in. The Belgians try to react, but lack precision in the attacking phase: first Trossard and then Lukaku make mistakes in front of Dubravka.
In the 56th minute Lukaku finally manages to find the netbut the joy is immediately interrupted: the position of the Roma attacker is in fact beyond the Slovak defensive line and VAR cancels. In the 62nd minute Doku makes the difference on the left, he puts it in the center for Bakayoko who goes for a sure shot but Hancko stops the ball on the line.
Belgium tries in every way even with a whirlwind of offensive changes. Openda enters and makes himself felt immediately: he breaks down the left, puts it in the center and Lukaku scores a moving penalty with a left foot 5 minutes from time. Belgium rejoices, Tedesco goes crazy with joy after the fear, but there is yet another mockery: imperceptible touch of the hand by Openda, VAR again, another goal canceled. Last desperate assaults for the Belgians, but the team led by Walter Calzona rejoiced after 98 minutes.
