The Belgian team cannot rest assured if Lukaku cannot escape the curse of bad luck at EURO 2024.
Before EURO 2024 kicked off, perhaps few people thought of such a dramatic, surprise-filled scenario for Group E. Although it is said to be gradually passing the "Golden Generation" stage, the Belgian team is still rated much higher than the other three mid-level names: Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania.
But in the opening match, the shock happened when the "tiny" Slovakia unexpectedly defeated the "Red Devils" Belgium with a score of 1-0, on the day Romelu Lukaku put the ball in the net twice but VAR updated new technology at EURO 2024 did not recognize it.
Meanwhile, the underdog Romania team had a big 3-0 victory over Ukraine to take the top spot in Group E, while Belgium team, who reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and passed the group stage of EURO 2020 with 3 wins, finished bottom of the group.
Slovakian players shocked by defeating Belgium in the first round
But in the second round, the Ukrainian team suddenly rose up with a vital 2-1 victory over Slovakia to get 3 precious points to return to the race, while the Belgian team defeated Romania 2-0 to get the first 3 points.
For the first time at EURO 2024, there is a situation where 4 teams have 3 points after the first 2 matches, promising a dramatic and breathtaking ending until the last minute when opportunities are open to everyone.
Before the final round, Romania was temporarily leading with a goal difference of 3-2 (+1), while Belgium was second with a goal difference of 2-1 (+1), Slovakia was third with a goal difference of 2-2 (0) and Ukraine was last with a goal difference of 2-4 (-2).
Ukraine's victory in round 2 makes the situation in group E extremely complicated.
In the final round at 11pm Vietnam time on June 26, there will be two matches between Belgium - Ukraine and Slovakia - Romania. The winning team will definitely advance while a draw will be a disaster for teams like Slovakia or Ukraine.
Certainly, all teams do not want to risk their chances of advancing to the next round in the hands of others. Therefore, a victory is what all four teams will aim for, to secure their future.
Belgium were revived by a crucial win in the previous round, but the way their defence remained unfocused and confused under real pressure gave the Ukrainians a lot of confidence.
Will Lukaku have a chance to truly celebrate in the final round?
Meanwhile, the match between two names considered "eight ounces, half a pound" Slovakia and Romania will be a real battle of survival, promising to push the dramatic climax to the peak, until the very last minutes.
With the unpredictable situation like this, anything can happen in group E.
Surely fans of the Belgian team still cannot rest assured, because if Lukaku continues to be unlucky like the first two matches and the defense continues to create holes, the possibility of the "Red Devils" stopping at the group stage of EURO 2024 - the second consecutive major tournament after the 2022 World Cup - is entirely possible.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuc-dien-cang-nghet-tho-cua-bang-dau-phuc-tap-nhat-euro-2024-185240623201104403.htm
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