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 purpose in historical past on the European Championship Belgium continued to push.
Romelu Lukaku had a purpose dominated out after being judged to have been offside by the smallest of margins, whereas the Chelsea striker had two different large possibilities to attain.
Kevin De Bruyne grabbed the one different purpose of the sport, latching on to a via 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 certain sufficient, the Aston Villa midfielder struck a candy strike via the Romania defence and into the again of the web, giving the Crimson Devils their good begin.
Lukaku seemed like he was on a private mission to make up for the misses he had towards Slovakia and was concerned loads within the first half.
He was utilizing his physique properly, having the ball performed into toes and both laying it again off or turning and making an attempt to get a shot away on purpose.
There was a chance 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, however it was a great top for the stopper.
With issues beginning to quiet down, Belgium unsurprisingly retained a lot of the ball and broke into Romania’s field on lots extra events.
Jeremy Doku was his typical, speedy self and was as a rule seen operating at his man and both delivering a ball in the direction of Lukaku or capturing himself.
However there was no additional breakthrough for both aspect at half-time, which could 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 want.
De Bruyne had 4 long-range efforts that went shut, twice forcing the goalkeeper into good saves.
In the meantime, Koen Casteels was pressured into a sensible low save to maintain out Razvan Marin on the different finish.
Lukaku thought he had the second purpose of the sport however it was dominated out for offside.
The Chelsea striker was performed via 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 web.
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 seemed to play it throughout to Lukaku, however a last-ditch block from Romania prevented a sure purpose.
😮#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 toes 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 because of their superior targets conceded file and they’re going to finish the marketing campaign towards Ukraine on 26 June.
Romania will play on the identical date however towards Slovakia.
Either side go into the matches realizing a win will see them via to the knockouts.
