Belgium secured their first win of Euro 2024 with a 2-0 victory over Romania in Group E. Youri Tielemans got Belgium off to a flying start, scoring just 73 seconds into the match. Kevin De Bruyne later sealed the result with a late goal. Although Romelu Lukaku had a third goal of the tournament ruled out by VAR, Belgium’s win was decisive. With this result, all four teams in Group E are now level on points, making the competition even more intense.
Analysis
That was more like it from Belgium. It finally feels like Domenico Tedesco has found his best team. Four changes were made from the defeat to Slovakia, and suddenly the combinations were much improved. Although Romania limited them to two goals, Belgium could have scored more.
The standout aspect of Belgium’s performance was their midfield trio. Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, and Kevin De Bruyne formed an impressive unit, controlling the press and creating numerous chances. It was no surprise that Tielemans and De Bruyne ended up on the scoresheet.
Belgium’s pressing was relentless, winning the ball back 23 times in the middle and attacking thirds of the pitch, with De Bruyne, Onana, and Tielemans accounting for a third of these recoveries.
Further forward, wingers Dodi Lukebakio and Jeremy Doku posed significant threats. Doku created the most chances on the pitch, and his efforts in regaining possession in the final third were second only to Romelu Lukaku. Despite another goal being disallowed by VAR, Lukaku’s presence remains crucial.
However, Belgium no longer relies solely on Lukaku for goals. The team has multiple attacking threats, making them a formidable opponent as they advance in the tournament.
Player of the Match: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Kevin De Bruyne delivered an exceptional performance, earning him the Player of the Match honor. His goal, a toe-poked, first-time finish following a flick-on from a long ball, was remarkable and showcased his sharp instincts. Beyond the goal, De Bruyne controlled the Belgian midfield and dictated the tempo of the game throughout the night. His leadership and creativity were crucial in Belgium’s 2-0 victory over Romania, capping off a fine performance.
PLAYER RATINGS
Belgium: Casteels 7; Castagne 7, Vertonghen 7, Faes 6, Theate 6; Onana 6, Tielemans 7, De Bruyne 8; Lukebakio 7, Lukaku 7, Doku 7
SUBS: Trossard 5, Carrasco 7, Mangala 6, Debast 6
Romania: Nita 7; Ratiu 5, Dragusin 6, Burca 7, Bancu 6; Marius Marin 6, Razvan Marin 6, Stanciu 5; Man 7, Dragus 5, Mihaila 7
SUBS: Hagi 7, Olaru 6, Alivec 6, Sorescu 6
Reaction
Domenico Tedesco, Belgium Coach:
“I’m very relieved that we won the game; it was very important to get those three points. Of course, we missed some chances. It would have been great if we could have tied up the game earlier on. I think it was possible to score three, four, or five goals tonight. It’s great that we’re creating these kinds of chances, and we need to stay patient.”
Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium Captain and Vivo Player of the Match:
“After the first game, I wasn’t concerned. I don’t think we played badly per se. Obviously, we made some mistakes, but we created chances, even if we couldn’t find the back of the net. We played well during the game tonight, and I think we deserved the win, so I’m happy. What’s important is that we’re creating chances and those situations.”
Edward Iordănescu, Romania Coach:
“They’re a team with lots of quality; they have speed, explosiveness, and power. They are a complete team and candidates to win the title. We never gave up; we fought very hard. In the second half, we were better. With a bit of luck, we could have got a point. We had chances to equalize. I want to congratulate my players for their efforts. I also want to thank the fans that were here in such large numbers.”
Radu Drăguşin, Romania Defender:
“It was a difficult match for us tonight. We faced a top team with top players. We had our chance; we had a good second half, but I don’t know what was missing for us. We will demonstrate in the match against Slovakia that we deserve to qualify from the group stage. I strongly believe in our chances. We will focus on our target; we can still achieve what we want.”
Key stats
- This was Belgium and Romania’s first meeting at a major international final tournament.
- Belgium have now won five of their last six EURO group matches.
- The 1-0 loss against Slovakia on Matchday 1 is Belgium’s only defeat in their last 17 matches (W11 D5).
- Belgium have drawn only two of their last 24 EURO matches and none of the last 19.
- Romania missed the chance to win successive EURO matches for the first time.