Euro 2024 – Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: Romelu Lukaku denied twice by VAR as Red Devils suffer shock defeat in Group E opener | Football News

Euro 2024 – Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: Romelu Lukaku denied twice by VAR as Red Devils suffer shock defeat in Group E opener | Football News


Much-fancied Belgium experienced a disappointing start to their Euro 2024 campaign after losing out to lower-ranked Slovakia 1-0 in their Group E opener.

Ivan Schranz was Slovakia’s hero, capitalising on a Jeremy Doku error and collecting the deflection from Juraj Kucka’s strike, before guiding the ball expertly into the far corner from a tight angle – a move that survived extensive VAR review.

Romelu Lukaku was not quite so lucky. Twice Belgium’s leading scorer had the ball in the back of the net in the second period, and twice VAR intervened to chalk goals off.

The No 9, attempting to atone for a wasteful first half, was ruled a toe offside when slamming home Amadou Onana’s cross in the 56th minute, before rounding off a smart move to plant Lois Openda’s cross beyond Martin Dubravka in the final minute of the 90.

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Romelu Lukaku appears to apologise to fans after Belgium lost to Slovakia

At first glance there looked to be very little wrong with the latter, but VAR was quick to spot the ball inadvertently glancing off Openda’s hand in the build-up, and recommended referee Halil Umut Meler take a second look. He did, and duly accepted the advice of the video official, controversially denying Lukaku once more.

Domenico Tedesco’s side, flat and frustrating for the most part, still created four ‘big chances’ (their most in a Euros game since 1980 vs Spain), but were unable to breach stubborn Slovakia, who top Group E alongside Romania.

Slovakia now face Ukraine on Friday knowing another win would send them into the last 16.

Slovakia's Ivan Schranz celebrates with team-mates after scoring against Belgium in Euro 2024 Group E
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Ivan Schranz celebrates scoring Slovakia’s winner

Analysis: Will Belgium ever live up to the hype?

Romelu Lukaku was twice denied by VAR as Belgium fell to shock loss in Group E opener
Image:
Romelu Lukaku was twice denied by VAR as Belgium fell to a shock loss in their Group E opener

Sky Sport’s Laura Hunter:

Perhaps Belgium are cursed. Perhaps unlucky. Or maybe this ‘golden generation’ simply isn’t as good as the hype – or third-place FIFA ranking – suggests. Whatever the intricacy or issue, they don’t seem to perform as predicted on the big stage.

Lukaku was wasteful, Kevin de Bruyne off-colour, Leandro Trossard ineffective. All over the pitch, in fact, Domenico Tedesco’s side underwhelmed, and that’s despite creating four ‘big chances’ and an xG of 1.91.

Game by game, the shine is flaking off what remains of Belgium’s reputation as one of Europe’s stellar sides. This is a team of individuals, far from a comprehensive unit of tournament winners.

And yet, there was something unjust about their opening game defeat. For all the obvious shortcomings, Lukaku did have the ball in the back of the net twice. The first was ruled offside, and so little argument can be made.

The second decision, however, jarred far more. This is the type of officiating that has drawn suspicion and skepticism in the Premier League, deemed by many as ‘re-refereeing’ – there is justification for both sides.

Lois Openda did handle the ball, but does that mean it’s handball? The rule is subjective, of course, but many believe this brand of VAR intervention to be a stain on the game. Jury’s out.

Either way, Belgium must improve if they are to avoid a repeat of Euro 2022, crashing out at the competition’s group stage.

Stats: Story of the match

Tedesco: We trust the officials

Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco: “The only thing that we didn’t do well was taking chances. We had plenty. It’s part of the game. Of course the players were disappointed.

“We had many chances, we pressed high. Normally you don’t lose this game. It hurts.”

Speaking about two VAR decisions to deny Belgium an equaliser, he added: “I want to be a fair loser – we trust the referees.”

Opta: Misfiring Belgium punished

  • Belgium have suffered their first group stage defeat at the European Championship since losing 2-0 to Italy in 2016 – they had won five in a row in the group stages before today’s defeat.
  • Slovakia have won each of their last four competitive internationals, their best winning run in competitive games since a run of five between 2016 and 2017.
  • Ivan Schranz’s goal in the seventh minute was the quickest goal Slovakia have scored at a major tournament and his fourth goal in 23 caps for his national team.
  • Belgium missed four Opta-defined big chances in this match, the first time they’d done so in a European Championship game since 1980 against Spain (also four missed).

So far in Group E…

T20 World Cup: Pakistan suffer thrilling six-run defeat to rivals India to leave hopes in jeopardy | Cricket News

T20 World Cup: Pakistan suffer thrilling six-run defeat to rivals India to leave hopes in jeopardy | Cricket News



India dealt a cruel blow to rivals Pakistan’s T20 World Cup hopes with a thrilling six-run victory in New York.

Billed as one of the clashes of the tournament, the contest delivered as it went down to the final over, Pakistan needing 12 runs from the final two balls but only managing six as they battled valiantly but lost to their old foes once again.

Wickets from Jasprit Bumrah (3-14) and Hardik Pandya (2-24) came at crucial moments as India turned the game on its head after they were bowled out for 119 by Pakistan, Bumrah taking the key wicket of Mohammad Rizwan (31) who was anchoring the innings.

Pakistan won an important toss and chose to bowl which seemed to work to their advantage, Naseem Shah (3-21), Haris Rauf (3-21), and Mohammad Amir (2-21) starring with the ball in hand as they reduced India from 89-3 to 119 all out, just 30 runs coming as seven wickets fell.

Mohammad Amir took the wickets of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja as India fell to 96-7

However, the Pakistan batting attack fell apart under the pressure and from 72-2 were reduced to 88-5 themselves, unable to find big boundaries in the final overs to seal a big win.

In Group A, India now sit top of the table, with USA in second. Pakistan are now in fourth and are yet to pick up a win.

Ravi Shastri could hardly contain his excitement ahead of the toss for India’s T20 World Cup clash with Pakistan

Bumrah and Hardik strike to dent Pakistan chase

With the 120-run target set by India in their sights, Babar Azam (13) and Mohammad Rizwan (10) looked to be building a solid partnership early in the second innings, but the Pakistan skipper was the first to fall as he sent one to Suryakumar Yadav in the slips, seating his team on 26-1 after 4.4 overs.

Rizwan, carrying a finger injury from a Hardik delivery, then started to build alongside Usman Khan, bringing their side to 57-1 at the halfway mark and comfortable that victory could be in their sights.

Mohammed Siraj’s attempted throw at the stumps didn’t go to plan as he hit Pakistan batter Muhammad Rizwan!

However, India then turned to Axar Patel (1-11) and he immediately made his mark to take out Usman Khan (13) via lbw from his first delivery of the innings, India cleverly using the review which showed he was hit in line and the ball was not sliding down like the umpire originally thought.

Fakhar Zaman (13) was then the man to partner with Rizwan in the middle as they continued on at the required run rate of six but a mistake from the former saw him caught behind by Pant after gloving one up in the air from a Hardik delivery, leaving Pakistan on 73-3 after 13 overs and needing 47 runs from 42 balls.

Score summary – India vs Pakistan

India: Jasprit Bumrah (3-14), Hardik Pandya (2-24); Rishabh Pant (42 runs from 31 balls)

Pakistan: Naseem Shah (3-21), Mohammad Amir (2-23), Haris Rauf (3-21); Mohammad Rizwan (31 runs from 44 balls)

With the game in the balance, Bumrah then became the star man as he took out the key wicket of Rizwan with a beauty of an inswinger, putting Pakistan under pressure with four wickets gone and now more than a run a ball needed, 37 runs from 30 balls the target.

Jasprit Bumrah took the crucial wicket of Muhammad Rizwan to revive India’s hopes of beating their fierce rivals Pakistan

With nervous energy in the air and Pakistan chasing the game, Shadab Khan (4) was duped by the short ball of Hardik and caught behind by Pant, putting India firmly in charge as they left Pakistan needing 21 from 12 balls.

The climactic ending to a thriller of an encounter then reached fever pitch as Iftikhar Ahmed (5) was caught by Arshdeep after sending one high on the final ball of the 19th over, Imad Wasim (15) then caught behind on the first ball of the 20th.

With 18 runs needed from five deliveries and seven wickets down, Pakistan added a single then a reverse scoop boundary but could only find six of the required 12 runs from the final two balls, leaving them heartbreakingly close to only their second-ever T20 World Cup win against India and putting India in the driving seat of Group A.

India’s Rishabh Pant played a remarkable shot as he hit a boundary off Pakistan’s Haris Rauf

The loss will feel worse for Pakistan after their strong showing in the first innings to leave India all out for 119.

Star performances came from Shah to dismiss Virat Kohli (4), Patel (20), and Dube (3), Rauf to dismiss Suryakumar (7), then Hardik (7) and Bumrah (0) in successive deliveries, and Amir to remove danger man Pant (42) and Ravindra Jadeja (0) in successive balls.

Virat Kohli could only make four as India were reduced to 12-1 in the second over against Pakistan

Despite the solid showing from Pakistan’s bowlers, Pakistan now have two losses from two games after their shock defeat to the USA, putting a real dent in their hopes of reaching the Super 8.

What they said

Pakistan captain Babar Azam:

“I think they bowled well after 10 overs. We were chasing 120, we were run a ball for the first 10 overs, but back-to-back wickets and then we left too much in the end.

“Tactics was simple, play normally, rotate strike, 5-6 an over. But in that period we had too many dot balls, the pressure was on us, and we lost three quick wickets.

“Can’t expect too much from tailenders. We were not up to the mark in the first six overs, we had targeted 40-45 runs, we have not capitalised properly.

“Pitch looked decent, ball coming nicely. Little bit slow, some balls are bouncing a bit more, but you expect it with a drop-in pitch.”

India bowler and player of the match Jasprit Bumrah:

“It feels really good. We felt we were a little under par, and when the sun came out, the wicket got a little better, so we had to be really disciplined.

“I tried to keep it simple, tried to hit the seam as much as I can, focus on my execution. It felt like we were in India, and the cheering is really appreciated, we were really happy with the support we got, it gave us a lot of energy.

“Focus on the now. We’ve played two games, played very good cricket. We’ll stick to our processes and come out and try our best.”

What’s next?

There is just one game at the T20 World Cup on Monday with New York the venue once again as South Africa face Bangladesh.

South Africa have beaten Sri Lanka and Netherlands across their first two matches in Group D, while Bangladesh’s sole fixture so far ended in a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

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