The Slovakia national team opened the scoring just six minutes after the start of the match through Ivan Schranz, who took advantage of a fatal defensive error to score the fastest goal for Slovakia in its record of participation in major tournaments.
Lukaku was able to score twice, but video technology resulted in the goal being canceled both times, due to offside in the 56th minute and due to a handball by Luis Obinda during the build-up of the attack a few minutes before the end of the match.
Thus, Belgium suffered its first defeat under the leadership of Domenico Tedesco, who took over as coach of the national team in February 2023, as it was the first defeat for Belgium in 16 matches.
The defeat in today’s match brought to mind Belgium’s disastrous participation in the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.
Slovakia thus scored its first three points in Group E, which witnessed earlier today Romania’s 3-0 victory over Ukraine in Munich.
Belgium plays its second match in the group against Romania next Saturday in Cologne, while Slovakia meets Ukraine on Friday.
Before the match, there was talk about the new features of the Belgian national team, with many new faces joining the team and injecting some energy, after Belgium’s golden generation lost its luster after being eliminated from the first round in Qatar, but it seems that the same problems still exist.
Tedesco’s team dominated the game over the course of 90 minutes, but they lacked the decisive touch and when they found it, the video technology and the Slovakia defense denied them an equaliser.
Belgium was missing its preferred centre-back duo of Janvertongen and Artur Tiat, and with left winger Jérémie Doku playing on the right side in the first half and Yannick Carrasco playing as a late left-back, the team lacked balance.
The state of confusion gave Slovakia the opportunity to score early, as Doku returned the ball to the penalty area and the defense did not deal with it appropriately. Juraj Kuka’s attempt was blocked and then the ball fell to Schranz, who beat Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels and put the ball into the net after six minutes and five seconds. From the starting whistle.
This came after Belgium wasted an early opportunity, as Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka blocked Lukaku’s shot from close range, after Doku’s wonderful run from Belgium’s half.
This was the first of three dangerous opportunities created in the first half by Lukaku, who scored 17 goals in 11 matches with the national team under Tedesco.
Slovakia also had chances, but goalkeeper Castels made a great save from Lukas Haraslin’s shot, and the team showed great defensive discipline.
Belgium came close again to scoring, but Slovakian defender David Hanko narrowly blocked a shot by substitute Johan Bakayoko, before it crossed the goal line.
Belgium received another shock after a goal was canceled due to a handball by Opinda before the ball reached Lukaku, who shot it into the net.
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