Belgium kickstarted their Euro 2024 marketing campaign with a 2-0 win over Romania in Cologne.
An early Youri Tielemans opener set the scene for what could be an exhilarating, end-to-end recreation and there have been loads of possibilities for each side.
Following the third-quickest objective in historical past on the European Championship Belgium continued to push.
Romelu Lukaku had a objective dominated out after being judged to have been offside by the smallest of margins, whereas the Chelsea striker had two different massive possibilities to attain.
Kevin De Bruyne grabbed the one different objective of the sport, latching on to a by means of ball from a goal-kick and slotting dwelling to earn the Crimson Devils all three factors.
As It Occurred
It took simply 65 seconds for Belgium to make an announcement and open the scoring.
Some nice build-up play involving De Bruyne and Lukaku noticed the ball fall to Tielemans, who has scored from very comparable positions throughout his profession.
The efficiency we wanted. 💪 #BELROU #WirSchaffenDas #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/kM83zvX2A4
— Belgian Crimson Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 22, 2024
And positive sufficient, the Aston Villa midfielder struck a candy strike by means of the Romania defence and into the again of the online, giving the Crimson Devils their good begin.
Lukaku regarded like he was on a private mission to make up for the misses he had in opposition to Slovakia and was concerned lots within the first half.
He was utilizing his physique nicely, having the ball performed into ft and both laying it again off or turning and attempting to get a shot away on objective.
There was a possibility 13 minutes in the place a Romania defender merely bounced off him and his shot on the flip simply missed the goal.
Dodi Lukebakio, who had been drafted in following their dismal efficiency within the opening match, then examined goalkeeper Florin Nita with a curling left-footed effort, but it surely was a superb peak for the stopper.
With issues beginning to calm down, Belgium unsurprisingly retained a lot of the ball and broke into Romania’s field on lots extra events.
Jeremy Doku was his normal, speedy self and was most of the time seen working at his man and both delivering a ball in the direction of Lukaku or taking pictures himself.
However there was no additional breakthrough for both facet at half-time, which may have left Romania the happier of the 2 groups as they have been nonetheless in it.
Within the second half, the sport opened like a river mouth into the ocean.
KING KEV! 👑 #BELROU #EURO2024 #WirSchaffenDas pic.twitter.com/BVI3ZbuT33
— Belgian Crimson Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 22, 2024
Belgium, decided to get a second and kill the sport off, emerged with renewed vitality and need.
De Bruyne had 4 long-range efforts that went shut, twice forcing the goalkeeper into good saves.
In the meantime, Koen Casteels was compelled into a sensible low save to maintain out Razvan Marin on the different finish.
Lukaku thought he had the second objective of the sport but it surely was dominated out for offside.
The Chelsea striker was performed by means of and slotted dwelling calmly, however replays confirmed he was fractionally off.
Nevertheless, his barely mistimed run was made amends by De Bruyne timing his to perfection to make it 2-0.
The Manchester Metropolis playmaker ran from his personal half to latch on to a deep goalkeeper and like Lukaku’s offside try, passing it across the goalkeeper and into the online.
There might have been a 3rd and even a fourth as the sport got here to an in depth.
Substitute Leandro Trossard burst in behind and regarded to play it throughout to Lukaku, however a last-ditch block from Romania prevented a sure objective.
😮#EURO2024 | #BELROU pic.twitter.com/cg2iFI24ka
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 22, 2024
The large striker was at it once more simply moments later, this time utilizing his personal tempo to burst previous a defender and shoot, just for his effort to be saved by the ft of Nita.
It was a valiant effort from Romania, however ultimately Belgium’s further high quality gave them the sting.
What subsequent for Belgium and Romania at Euro 2024?
Group E is finely poised with all 4 groups sitting on three factors.
Belgium have jumped to the highest of the standings due to their superior objectives conceded report and they’re going to finish the marketing campaign in opposition to Ukraine on 26 June.
Romania will play on the identical date however in opposition to Slovakia.
Either side go into the matches figuring out a win will see them by means of to the knockouts.
