Euro 2024: Shocked Belgium looks to get European Championship back on track against Romania

Fri, Jun 21, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) - Belgium faces Romania on Saturday after suffering the biggest shock of Euro 2024 so far when losing its opening Group E game against Slovakia. The No.3-ranked team in the world lost 1-0 to snap a 14-game unbeaten streak going into the tournament. Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 in its opening game to top the group. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. local (1900 GMT) in Cologne. Here's what to know about the match:

Match facts

- Romania will advance to the round of 16 by beating Belgium. A draw is also likely to see it advance, with no team having failed to make the knockout round of the Euros with four points.

- Belgium's shock defeat likely brought back bad memories of the 2022 World Cup when it was eliminated at the group stage in Qatar, despite having gone into the tournament ranked No 2. in the world.

- Romania's win against Ukraine was its first at a Euros in 24 years.

- Romelu Lukaku was the leading scorer in Euros qualifying with 14 goals - ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (10), Kylian Mbappe (9) and Harry Kane (8). But he suffered a frustrating game against Slovakia when having two goals ruled out by VAR.

RELATED COVERAGE

Cristiano Ronaldo back in action as Portugal and Turkey look for second straight win at Euro 2024

UEFA says it will improve Frankfurt field after turf cuts up in England-Denmark game at Euro 2024

Euro 2024: Georgia and the Czech Republic desperate to get off the mark in Group F

- Nicolae Stanciu was outstanding in Romania's win against Ukraine and scored one of the goals of the tournament with a long-range effort. He also nearly scored direct from a corner kick, which hit the bar.

Team news

- Romania has not reported any injury concerns.

- Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate did not play against Slovakia, having been injury doubts for that game.

By the numbers

- Lukaku is Belgium's all-time leading scorer with 85 goals. His 14 goals in qualifying set a new record for the European Championship.

- Romania's 3-0 win against Ukraine was its biggest ever at a Euros.

- The loss against Slovakia was Belgium's first defeat under coach Domenico Tedesco, who took over after the last World Cup and has won 10 of his 15 games in charge.

What they're saying

- "It's a difficult game, totally different from the first. However, we have courage, belief in ourselves, and we know what we can do." Romania midfielder Ianis Hagi.

- "The only thing that we didn't do well (against Slovakia) was missing chances. We had plenty. It's part of the game." - Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco

___

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024