In a pivotal Euro 2024 Group E match, Belgium secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Romania at Cologne Stadium on Saturday. The win, witnessed by Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, revitalizes Belgium’s campaign after a surprising opening loss to Slovakia.
Belgium wasted no time asserting dominance, with midfielder Youri Tielemans netting a goal in the second minute. Receiving a deft layoff from Romelu Lukaku, Tielemans struck from the edge of the area, giving the world’s No. 3-ranked team an early advantage.
The match remained intensely competitive until the 80th minute when Kevin De Bruyne, fondly dubbed “King Kev” by fans, extended Belgium’s lead. De Bruyne capitalized on a long kick from goalkeeper Koen Casteels, skillfully converting to seal the win.
“We knew what we needed to do. We needed to win; otherwise, we were going home,” De Bruyne stated after the match. “I will do everything I can to keep the lads on track.”
The victory alleviated pressure on Belgium and coach Domenico Tedesco. “I’m very relieved we won the game. It was very important to get the three points,” Tedesco commented.
Despite the win, striker Romelu Lukaku faced frustration with a third goal ruled out by VAR during the tournament. Nevertheless, his crucial involvement in the opening goal underscored his importance to the team.
The result leaves all four teams in Group E—Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine—with three points each, setting the stage for a thrilling final round of group matches. On Wednesday, Belgium will face Ukraine, while Romania takes on Slovakia, with all teams vying for a place in the knockout stages.
Global fans and analysts are keenly watching Group E, one of the most tightly contested pools in Euro 2024, promising excitement and unpredictability as the tournament progresses.
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De Bruyne crowns Belgium's 2-0 win over Romania at Euro 2024
cgtn.com
