sport In a surprising turn of events at Euro 2024, Slovakia delivered a shocking blow to Belgium with a 1-0 victory, despite Lukaku having two goals disallowed

Slovakia’s forward #09 Robert Bozenik celebrated his team’s first goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group E football match between Belgium and Slovakia at the Frankfurt Arena in Frankfurt am Main on June 17, 2024. (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP) 

The tournament favorite, Belgium, experienced a setback as Slovakia emerged as 1-0 victors in the match. Despite Romelu Lukaku's two goals being disallowed, Slovakia achieved a surprising 1-0 victory over Belgium, initiating their Euro 2024 campaign with a significant win over the third-ranked team in the world.

Francesco Calzona’s side, positioned 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA’s world rankings, defied expectations with a resilient performance in Frankfurt, showcasing an unexpected quality against Belgium.

Belgium's unexpected loss against Slovakia has dynamically shifted the landscape of Group E, following Romania's 3-0 victory over Ukraine in the other match in the same pool. This loss places Belgium in a challenging position, as they strive to live up to their potential in a major tournament.

Belgium's high expectations, particularly following their third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, have not materialized in recent tournaments. Despite an impressive 14-match unbeaten run, the team faced a disappointing performance against Slovakia, amplifying the pressure on them to deliver in their upcoming game against Romania.

Lukaku, a key player for Belgium, missed crucial opportunities throughout the match, exacerbating Belgium's struggle to secure a favorable outcome. Despite their relentless attempts to score, including Lukaku’s disallowed goal, Belgium was unable to recover from their early setback, ultimately leading to a disappointing defeat in the opening match of the tournament.