Belgium wins its first victory at Euro 2024 at the end of a match dominated for a long time, in which, however, it also risks conceding a draw, where it wastes a lot against Nita and his teammates. A success that puts Group E in perfect balance where now the four teams – Slovakia and Ukraine the other two – are all on three points after two days.
NOW TIELEMANS – Tedesco’s team in fact passes with the first shot on goal with Tielemans doing well to exploit Lukaku’s work in the center of the area and beat Nita from the edge with a powerful diagonal. The opponents’ response was practically all in a header from Dragusin which Casteels raised over the crossbar and in a couple of attempts by the wingers, while Belgium came close to doubling their lead several times.
WASTED OPPORTUNITIES – In the 13th, Lukaku tries but is blocked by Bancu in the corner and Doku finds Nita’s rebound. But Lukebakio is the most active with three wasted opportunities both due to interventions by the opponents and some measurement errors in the shot. In the final, De Bruyne also tries but comes up with something that is a cross between a pass and a shot with Nita controlling it without problems.
BELGIUM ALWAYS MASTER – In the second half Romania started better with the Parma duo Man and Mihaila who immediately tried to worry Casteels who replied present. Then Belgium returns to dominate but continues to lack in the last 20 meters with De Bruyne, twice, and Lukaku missing the knockout blow. Tedesco’s team would also score the second goal on a vertical action by De Bruyne-Lukaku, but the center forward sprints just ahead of the Romanian defenders with VAR disallowing the goal. The same center forward tries shortly after, but Nita still closes the door on him. On the other hand, Man once again stands out but lacks the killer instinct with Casteels keeping his chances alive on the way out.
DE BRUYNE CLOSES IT – Ten minutes from the end, Belgium’s deserved goal arrives with De Bruyne taking advantage of a lack of attention from the defense on a long throw from goalkeeper Casteels to beat Nita on the way out. Shortly afterwards, Tedesco’s team came close to scoring a hat-trick at the end of an action that put Trossard in the penalty area: the player, however, looked for an assist for Lukaku instead of a shot with the defense making a mistake and moving away. Romania tries to react and almost comes close to scoring with Alibec, who has just entered, who appears in front of Casteels and passes him but finds an attentive Castagne who saves a certain goal almost on the line. In the final Lukaku tries again and loses the direct challenge with Nita again.
