Belgiumvs.Romania

Domenico Tedesco's men were stunned 1-0 by Slovakia in their opening affair, while the Tricolours put three unanswered goals past Ukraine and can now seal a shock last-16 qualification in Cologne.

Match preview

What appeared to be a foregone conclusion from the first whistle turned into another major tournament humiliation for Belgium, who were ruing their lack of killer touch and VAR decisions going against them in no doubt the biggest shock of the opening Euro 2024 matchday.

The net bulged with just seven minutes on the clock as Ivan Schranz kept himself onside to fire home from a rebound, before the luckless Romelu Lukaku had not one, but two strikes disallowed, one for offside and another for Lois Openda's handball, awarded by the novel technology.

Such a gut-wrenching defeat marked Belgium's first reverse since going down to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup - and thereby handing Tedesco his first loss as Red Devils manager - but the 38-year-old was at least gracious in defeat and refused to point the finger at technology.

By virtue of seeing their 15-match unbeaten run crash and burn, the Belgians are third in the Group E standings - only above fellow pointless side Ukraine on goal difference - and Slovakia beating the latter on Friday would eliminate their chances of topping the group before they kick a ball at the weekend.

Not since Euro 2000 have the Red Devils lost multiple matches at one European Championship, though, and not since the first-ever World Cup in 1930 have Belgium been consigned to defeat in both of their opening two games of a major tournament, but their morale levels will no doubt be heavily depleted compared to their optimistic opponents.

Few had a three-goal Romania victory against Ukraine on their bingo card for Euro 2024 - Serhiy Rebrov's men had even been tipped as dark horses by many - but thanks in no small part to an Andriy Lunin disasterclass, the Tricolours lit up the yellow-clad Allianz Arena.

Two mistakes from Lunin aided two long-range strikes from Nicolae Stanciu and Razvan Marin, before Denis Dragus put the cherry on top for Edward Iordanescu's charges, who now hold the honour of recording Romania's biggest win ever at the men's Euros.

Prior to the 2024 edition, a 3-2 beating of England in 2000 represented the Tricolours' only success at the continental gathering - they failed to pick up a single win in the 2008 or 2016 editions - but first place in Group E and a route to the knockout rounds is now theirs to lose.

Victory at the RheinEnergieStadion would seal Romania's knockout qualification with a game to spare, but while their beating of Ukraine was certainly striking, Iordanescu's men had been more than holding their own in the months leading up to this summer's Euros.

Indeed, only one of Romania's 16 matches has ended in defeat - a 3-2 friendly loss to Colombia in March - and they have now recorded three clean sheets on the bounce ahead of a 13th meeting with Belgium, whom they also bested 2-1 in a 2012 friendly during their most recent encounter.

Belgium European Championship form:

L

Belgium form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

W

L

Romania European Championship form:

W

Romania form (all competitions):

W

D

L

D

D

W

Team News

While none of Belgium's starters or substitutes picked up any knocks against Slovakia, Thomas Meunier (thigh) was absent from the squad, while Axel Witsel (adductor) and Jan Vertonghen failed to make it onto the pitch despite being given the green light to make the bench.

Vertonghen has declared himself fit, though, and is an option to replace Yannick Carrasco on the left, but Witsel's participation is still up in the air, while Meunier is not expected back in action until Belgium's final group game versus Ukraine.

Orel Mangala, Dodi Lukebakio and Youri Tielemans are also walking a tightrope after being booked on matchday one, but the latter is a candidate to replace the former in midfield, while Liverpool-linked winger Johan Bakayoko will certainly push to displace Jeremy Doku or Leandro Trossard, albeit probably unsuccessfully.

As for their buoyant counterparts, a near-perfect afternoon against Ukraine saw Iordanescu's players all emerge unscathed on the physical front, although goalscorer Marin is also one yellow card away from a ban after entering the referee's book on Monday.

Naturally, Romania would be expected to send out an unchanged starting lineup, although local media have reported that Parma winger Valentin Mihaila is a candidate to replace Florinel Coman on the left wing.

Mihaila was apparently overlooked for a starting role against Ukraine due to an illness, although he still came off the bench for the final half-hour and shone in qualifying, where he scored three of the four goals he boasts for his national team.

Belgium possible starting lineup:

Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate; Tielemans, Onana; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; Lukaku

Romania possible starting lineup:

Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; R. Marin, M. Marin, Stanciu; Man, Dragus, Mihaila

We say: Belgium 2-1 Romania

As sensational as Romania's performance was against Ukraine, they were aided by Lunin's lacklustre display in between the sticks, and a Belgium side with a point to prove will no doubt be a tricky proposition.

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