Slovakia precipitated the primary huge shock on the European Soccer Championship in Germany. Coach Francesco Calzona’s crew received 1-0 (1-0) towards Belgium in Group E in Frankfurt on Monday. The aim of Ivan Schranz made the outsiders rejoice early (seventh), who stored this slim lead over time with a powerful efficiency and luck. Within the desk, the Slovaks had been three factors behind Romania, who beat Ukraine 3-0.
Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco was cautious in central protection and benched the not too long ago injured Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate. As an alternative, Zeno Debast, who was solely 20 years previous, and Wout Faes got here into play. Nonetheless, it was Jeremy Doku who dominated the primary stage. The Manchester Metropolis winger made his approach down the suitable within the third minute and was fed by Kevin De Bruyne, who handed it to Romelu Lukaku. Nonetheless, the Sturmtank failed from just a few meters to the goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Slightly later the rating was 1-0 after Doku’s preparatory work, however on the fallacious facet. The 22-year-old made a critical mistake in his personal penalty space, his cross landed at Schranz, who was cleared by Juraj Kucka. Koen Casteels deflected his shot to the facet, the place Schranz scored from a good angle (seventh). Belgium’s momentum was gone and the Slovaks, who had been forward of them, performed bravely in entrance.
Lukaku’s two targets didn’t depend
Nonetheless, Dubravka nearly did not contact the underdog. As an alternative of clearing the ball inconsistently, the keeper misplaced the ball, however Leandro Trossard didn’t make the most of the present and shot over the empty aim (21′). Nonetheless, Calzona’s troops had been now the higher crew and nearly went one higher. On the counter, Kucka served the ball to Lukas Haraslin, who fired a volley from the sting of the penalty space. The castles cleared the ball badly with an important reflex (40′). Alternatively, Lukaku stumbled in a promising place (forty second).
Within the second half, the “Crimson Devils” first wanted ten minutes to develop strain, however then they opened a ten-minute energy play with many scoring alternatives. First, Dubravka had the higher hand towards Lukaku (fifty fifth). The next nook introduced the supposed equaliser, however Lukaku was simply offside when he scored after a header from Amadou Onana (56th).
Trossard (59th), Lukaku (61st) and substitute Johan Bakayoko (62nd) missed alternatives each minute now. The second failed with a shot down from defender David Hancko, who was standing on the road. After that, Slovakia acquired the sport again so as and launched aid assaults.
Within the closing part, one other Lukaku aim was not counted both; Nonetheless, the Leipzig legionnaire Openda made a handball. De Bruyne lastly missed the final probability (92nd).
Ukraine, who nonetheless don’t have any factors, now await Slovakia on Friday (3 pm) in Düsseldorf. Schranz and Co can progress to the spherical of 16 with a win. The Belgians have yet another day to regenerate; they may face the Romans in Cologne on Saturday (9 pm) and they’re already beneath strain.