Two Romelu Lukaku goals were ruled out by video review and Belgium fell to a stunning 1-0 loss to Slovakia in wild Group D at the European Championship on Monday.
Slovakia struck with a seventh-minute goal by forward Ivan Schranz then survived a string of misses by Belgium record scorer Lukaku, who had two second-half goals overturned, and all that playmaker Kevin De Bruyne could help create.
Slovakia’s deserved win also was preserved by defender David Hancko’s brave goal-line block that left him sprawled in the goal net with a face injury inflicted by a teammate’s knee.
The second VAR intervention in the 86th disallowed Lukaku’s powerful shot because of a handball by Lois Openda before his decisive pass.
Lukaku set a competition record of 14 goals in a qualifying group last year, yet somehow failed to score in a wasteful first half including twice before Slovakia led.
The drama in Frankfurt came hours after Romania upended predictions by outclassing Ukraine 3-0 in Munich.
Belgium fell to a first loss in 15 games under coach Domenico Tedesco and faces Romania in the Saturday evening game in Cologne.
Slovakia has more than one day less to prepare for facing Ukraine in Duesseldorf on Friday.
Mbappe suffers facial injury in France win
Kylian Mbappe suffered a facial injury and was replaced as France beat Austria 1-0 in its opening game of the European Championship on Monday.
The striker, involved in the first-half goal, clashed heads with Austria’s Kevin Danso late in the Group D game at Dusseldorf Arena. He was in obvious pain as he lay curled on the grass, prompting Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz to signal for medical attention.
Mbappe received treatment and his shirt was covered with blood from what appeared to be a blow to his nose. He tried to play on but quickly fell to the ground, holding his face and prompting whistles and jeers from Austria’s fans, who seemed to believe he was time-wasting as France held on for the win.
France needed an own goal from Maximilian Wober in the 38th minute and handed Didier Deschamps his 100th victory as national team coach.
On a mixed day for Mbappe, it was his moment of inspiration that led to the decisive goal. With a flash of close-ball control, he beat Phillipp Mwene in the box and crossed in search of a teammate. In Wober’s desperation to cut out the danger, he inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net.
Mbappe was then guilty of a remarkable miss 10 minutes into the second half when failing to hit the target from close range with only the keeper to beat.
Bursting through on goal, he was too fast for Wober and had time to steady himself in the box before picking his spot. With France fans behind the goal just waiting for the net to bulge, Mbappe’s shot instead curled past the post to the relief of the Austrians.
Romania defeats Ukraine for 1st Euro win in 24 years
Romania recorded only its second ever victory at the European Championship, and its first in 24 years, with a 3-0 win over Ukraine on Monday in Munich to give coach Edward Iord─ânescu a late birthday present.
Nicolae Stanciu put Romania ahead with a long-range strike in the first half before two quickfire goals from Râzvan Marin and Denis Drâgus early in the second half.
The Ukraninian soccer federation unveiled an installation in Munich of a stadium stand destroyed by Russian troops in May 2022 to highlight the ongoing conflict ahead of the match.
“One team on the field but a million soldiers who stay and defend Ukraine,” ,” said former Ukraine coach and striker Andriy Shevchenko, who is the president of the country’s soccer federation. “We are all together. We play today for the country. We play today for the people who defend our lives and our country.”
It was an emotional match for both sets of players. It was Romania’s first appearance in a major tournament for eight years and several of the players were in tears as the national anthem rang out.
The Romanian fans sang along loudly, with the stadium transformed into a sea of yellow — the main colour for both teams.
Source Agencies
