COLOGNE, Germany — In front of Belgium’s royal family, King Kev sealed the win.
Belgium shook off the shock of losing to Slovakia in its opening game of the European Championship by beating Romania 2-0 on Saturday.
Kevin De Bruyne’s second-half goal completed the win after Youri Tielemans scored in the second minute at Cologne Stadium.
Watching on were Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
“We knew what we needed to do. We needed to win otherwise we were going home,” De Bruyne said. “I will do everything I can to keep the lads on track.”
This was just what Belgium needed after the Slovakia stunner, which raised the prospect of another early exit from a major tournament after being eliminated at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
Tielemans gave the No. 3-ranked team in the world a flying start with a goal from the edge of the area. De Bruyne converted direct from Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels’ long kick in the 80th.
The result means all four teams in Group E have three points and there is all to play for in the final round of games on Wednesday, when Belgium plays Ukraine and Romania takes on Slovakia.
“I’m very relieved we won the game. It was very important to get the three points,” Belgium Coach Domenico Tedesco said.
While Belgium won, there was more frustration for Romelu Lukaku, who had a third goal ruled out by VAR at these Euros.
Still, he was at the center of his team’s great start when laying the ball off for Tielemans to drive in low from the edge of the box.
Belgium has been criticized for failing to live up to expectations in the past, and its opening defeat would not have helped the confidence among the squad going into Saturday’s game.
Tielemans’ goal seemed to lift the pressure, and Belgium ruled the rest of the half with 67% of possession.
CZECH REPUBLIC 1,
GEORGIA 1
HAMBURG, Germany — Georgia earned its first ever point at a major tournament after drawing with the Czech Republic. It was nearly a win.
Midfielder Saba Lobjanidze fired his shot narrowly over the bar with the last kick of the game as Georgia’s promising three-on-one counterattack came to nothing.
Lobjanidze — who plays for Atlanta United in the U.S. state of Georgia — seemed to be in tears after the final whistle and was comforted by Coach Willy Sagnol.
“As I tried to tell him, the ones who never tried, they will never miss. And the best way to miss is to try,” Sagnol said.
“Some mixed feelings after the match in the locker room. For the first minutes I think the players were a bit disappointed because of this massive opportunity but I hope they will quickly get the fact that they got their first ever point in a major tournament.”
There was a big mismatch in experience, with the Czech team playing in its eighth consecutive European Championship and Georgia, which was once part of the Soviet Union, making its debut as an independent nation.
Earlier, video reviews were in the spotlight.
The Czechs dominated the opening stages and celebrated the opening goal in the 23rd minute when Adam Hlozek bundled the ball into the net at the far post off a long throw.
Replays, however, showed Hlozek’s shot bounced back off goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and in off the Czech forward’s face and arm.
The situation was reversed when Georgia defender Guram Kashia shot straight at the goalkeeper just before halftime. Georgia fans rued the missed chance but celebrated when a video review found the ball came off Czech defender Robin Hranac’s arm a couple of seconds earlier.
PORTUGAL 3,
TURKEY 0
DORTMUND, Germany — By the end, it was hard to know what Cristiano Ronaldo was more unhappy about.
Failing to score for the second consecutive game at the European Championship or having to fend off repeated attempts for selfies by his adoring fans.
In what proved to be a wild match for the five-time world player of the year, Ronaldo had no goals, one assist and no less than four selfie-pursuing field invaders for company in Portugal’s chaotic win over Turkey that secured a spot in the round of 16.
Ronaldo, one of the world’s most popular and well-known sport stars, was the center of attention as always at Westfalenstadion. Just not how he might have expected.
“That’s the price you pay for being so recognized in the world of football,” said Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo’s Portugal teammate.
Ronaldo did get his first goal involvement of the tournament when he set up the third by Bruno Fernandes with an unselfish pass. He could easily have attempted a shot after being played clean through.
“It was a pure moment of Portuguese football,” Portugal Coach Roberto Martinez said in praise of Ronaldo, his captain. “It should be shown in every academy in world football.”
Then things got a bit silly — and potentially unsafe — for the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus striker.
Ronaldo was fine posing for a photograph with a young boy who evaded stewards to get on the field in the 69th minute before whipping out his cell phone. That fan sprinted off before being stopped and escorted away — but not before he waved to the crowd.
However, Ronaldo certainly wasn’t amused when two other fans with phones at the ready tried the same trick in the final few minutes of the game. He threw his arms up in disgust the first time and appeared to actively try to avoid the next one as he defended a corner.
After the final whistle, there were more security breaches as a fan wearing a Portugal jersey attempted to get close to Ronaldo while holding a phone. He was soon tackled to the ground before two more supporters were stopped from confronting Ronaldo as Portugal’s players walked off the field.
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, right, scores his side’s second goal during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. The goal was later disallowed after a VAR review. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring a later disallowed goal during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne, left, celebrates with Belgium’s Yannick Carrasco after scoring his side’s second goal during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal with teammates during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne, rear center, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Romania’s Andrei Burca reacts after missing a scoring chance during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Belgium’s King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Prince Emmanuel and Prince Gabriel arrive for a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Romanian players react after a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
