Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign gained momentum with a 2-0 victory over Romania, thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans and Kevin De Bruyne, securing their first points in the tournament.
Following their disappointing loss to Slovakia, Belgium came out strong, with Tielemans scoring after just 73 seconds from a Romelu Lukaku lay-off. Despite their dominance, the score remained 1-0 for much of the game, with De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku leading impressive attacks.
De Bruyne missed a few close chances in the second half, and Lukaku experienced his third VAR disallowed goal of the tournament for a marginal offside. Romania posed occasional threats, forcing Belgium’s goalkeeper Koen Casteels into crucial saves, particularly from Dennis Man.
The win was sealed when De Bruyne scored in the final 10 minutes, converting a long ball into a captain’s goal. With each team in Group E now holding three points, the final round promises a dramatic conclusion.
Analysis: Tedesco Finds His Best Belgium Team
Domenico Tedesco appears to have discovered his optimal lineup. Four changes from the Slovakia match improved Belgium’s performance significantly. The midfield trio of Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, and Kevin De Bruyne controlled the game, contributing to both defense and attack.
Belgium’s wingers, Dodi Lukebakio and Jeremy Doku, were major threats, with Doku creating the most chances and Lukaku continuing to face VAR frustrations. Despite this, Belgium’s multi-faceted attack does not solely rely on Lukaku.
What They Said…
Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium Captain: “We played well, creating many chances, though we made a few mistakes. Offensively and defensively, our performance was strong. We need to maintain this level against Ukraine.”
Player of the Match: Jeremy Doku
Though not scoring, Jeremy Doku’s pace and creativity were crucial. The Manchester City winger created the most chances and had the best passing accuracy on the team, showing significant improvement and forming a strong partnership with De Bruyne.
Credit: Sky Sports
