Football News Update: Shock Result as Slovakia Defeat Belgium in Euro 2024 Qualifier

In a surprising turn of events, Belgium’s national football team suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Slovakia in their Euro 2024 qualifying match. The game, played at the Frankfurt Arena, saw Belgium’s manager Domenico Tedesco refuse to blame VAR for the unexpected result, despite having two goals from Romelu Lukaku ruled out by the video refereeing technology.

Lukaku’s first disallowed goal was a controversial decision, with the use of a “snickometer” to determine if Loïs Openda had handled the ball in the buildup. The VAR officials deemed the handling to be deliberate, rendering Lukaku’s subsequent powerful finish irrelevant.

Despite the setback, Tedesco maintained a composed outlook, stating, “We trust these guys, we trust the VAR and the referees, and if they blow and say it’s handball, we have to trust and accept it.“

The lone goal of the match was scored by Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz in the seventh minute, giving the underdogs a valuable lead. Tedesco acknowledged that Belgium had the better chances throughout the game but praised Slovakia’s dogged defensive efforts and the technical brilliance of their midfield, led by Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka, who was named the man of the match.

“We were not afraid, and we just have to continue in the same way. We have shown we can compete with anyone.”

• Stanislav Lobotka

The defeat was Tedesco’s first in 15 matches as the Red Devils’ coach, but he remained positive, insisting that the team can take positives from the loss and use it as motivation moving forward.

This result shakes up Group E of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, with Slovakia now in a strong position to challenge for a place in the tournament. Football fans and analysts will be closely watching the remaining matches in this group as the road to the European Championship continues.

🔗 Source