This is how they looked at the Red Devils abroad: disallowed goal moves the football world, but there is also a lot of criticism about “lost splendor and splendor”

Openda was sent into the depth by Zeno Debast and provided an assist to Lukaku at the end of the game. The equalizer was canceled by the match management after a VAR intervention because Openda had committed involuntary and feather-light hand play. A decision that received a lot of criticism from, for example, Gary Lineker. “Ridiculous decision,” tweeted the former England international and analyst at the British public broadcaster BBC.

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The questionable choice was also not positively received by the German channel ZDF. “I wouldn’t have blown the handball,” admitted former Germany international Christoph Kramer. Bayern legend Michael Ballack shared his compatriot’s opinion. “For me it is no handball and a valid goal. I don’t think the goal should have been disallowed,” he said on Magenta TV.

Referee Meler was supported in his decision by his German colleague Manuel Gräfe. “You can clearly see that he (Openda, ed.) hits the ball with his hand. That’s where we have to draw the line. Of course it is not intentional and very bitter for the Belgians, but for me it is a right decision,” said the German referee at ZDF.

Few Belgians on the European front pages. The press mainly focuses on the broken nose of superstar Kylian Mbappé, who narrowly won against Austria with France. There was also a lot of attention for Lukaku’s second disallowed goal.

The Daily Mail

“On Sunday, Slovak national coach Francesco Calzona said: ‘What matters is that we don’t lose’ against Belgium,” it reads. “His players went one step further by recording one of the biggest stunts in the history of the European Championship. Separated by 45 places in the FIFA rankings and up against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Calzona’s men took an early lead through Ivan Schranz and they subsequently survived a barrage of Belgian chances. Twice Belgium celebrated an equalizer through Lukaku, but none of the goals stood after VAR interventions – one was canceled out for offside and another controversially for handball by Luis Openda – as Slovakia secured a victory for the ages.”

The Sun

© The Sun

“The sparkle of Belgium’s Golden Generation has disappeared. Now it’s about faded memories of what could have been. Those near goals. Those missed opportunities. Those horror moments in the back that hurt them so much. The refereeing decisions. If ever a match summed up the descent from the heights of hope to the valleys of despair, it was played at the Waldstadion.”

“Against a modest Slovakia, who scored an early goal by Ivan Schranz, Belgium would have gone home at their best. But that splendor has disappeared, faded, gone. We saw that when they had to go home after the group stage at the World Cup. The same fate could await them in Germany after a series of blunders from a host of well-known Premier League faces. Romelu Lukaku, still nominally a Chelsea player, missed five chances and saw two goals disallowed by VAR.”

“While Kevin de Bruyne distributed the game, he couldn’t get the machine working. And although all of Belgium mourned the VAR decisions from Leipzig, Jeremy Doku was the guilty man. He did Wout Faes terribly short before Schranz scored the winning goal. Admittedly, Belgium didn’t deserve to lose. But if you don’t take advantage of the opportunities, you pay in cash.”

© The Times

Football International

“Stubborn Slovaks and unfortunate Lukaku are causing Belgian disgrace. Ivan Schranz scored the only goal early in the match, after which our southern neighbors missed an abundance of opportunities and saw two goals disallowed. Romelu Lukaku was the unlucky player of the evening. A few minutes before the end, Lukaku finally thought he could save his evening by crowning a beautiful action by substitute Loïs Openda with a convincing finish. It simply wasn’t meant to be.”

“Arbiter Halil Umut Meler had to go to the screen to look and noticed that Openda had committed a punishable handball along the way. It drove the Belgians to despair, from the players on the field to the poetic reporter on Sporza. Slovakia has three extremely important points and is therefore almost certain of the next round. For the Belgians it will be make or break against Romania and Ukraine.”

The Telegraph

“Belgium has had a disappointing start to the European Championship. The number three in the FIFA rankings choked in Slovakia, which is in 48th place in the same ranking. It became 1-0 thanks to an early goal by Ivan Schranz, which was difficult for the Red Devils. Although the Belgians created many chances with goal monster Romelu Lukaku and the lightning fast Jeremy Doku, the Slovaks still fought their way to victory. VAR played an important role in this, because two goals by Lukaku were disallowed at the initiative of these video referees.”

“Koen Casteels had an unfortunate start to the tournament because the goalkeeper of VfL Wolfsburg, who will try his luck in Saudi Arabia after this season, boxed the first shot on target at the feet of Schranz, who saw his chance and finished well (1-0). Belgium, which plays attacking football under national coach Domenico Tedesco, stepped up the pace and created plenty of opportunities. But all-time top scorer Lukaku did not have his sights completely set and missed another big chance. There were also plenty of moments to score after the break, but Leandro Trossard, Lukaku and substitute Bakayoko could not get the ball in. And when the ball did go in, the VAR came on the line. And twice more. The first time Lukaku was offside, the second time just before the end, assist provider Lois Openda (ex-Vitesse) appeared to have taken the ball with his hand. That was sad for the Belgians, who nevertheless do not have to worry too much about continuing in the tournament with matches against Ukraine and Romania still ahead of them.”

The Algemeen Dagblad

“Dramatic European Championship start for Belgium: Slovakia and the VAR defeat the Red Devils in the first group match. Jérémy Doku was not always guaranteed a starting position at both Manchester City and Belgium last year, but with his speed and many successful dribbles he can be an important factor in Domenico Tedesco’s team. In the match against Slovakia, he received the confidence of the national coach up front in the opening match, above PSV player Johan Bakayoko, who started on the bench. The only 22-year-old winger flew in, the Red Devils almost took the lead twice in the first five minutes thanks to his good actions, but he was able to fall through the ground after seven minutes… A huge setback for the Belgians, who in the group with Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine were seen in advance as absolute top favorites. But with one expensive mistake by Doku and two disallowed goals, it was not meant to be on Monday evening.”

The team

“Romelu Lukaku, who failed to take advantage of a number of good chances, and Jérémy Doku, guilty of the Slovakian goal, could not prevent Belgium’s defeat (0-1) on Monday.”

“Doku: A flash with a devastating 40-yard run in minute three. Then he fell silent. As if his mistake, which was largely responsible for the Slovakian goal, had given him doubts. The City winger reverted to his habits, the abundance of sterile dribbles, poor passes, unproductive rushes. He even called off a counterattack at one point. With more impact in the second period, he shook up the Slovak left side. But remained too inconsistent. Replaced by Loïs Openda.

“Lukaku: The Belgians have a habit of relying on their top scorer, author of half of the goals of the Tedesco era. He was not inspired and initially missed three chances. More astute in the second period, first scoring a good shot before pushing Onana’s header home, a goal that was ruled out by VAR for offside. He also scored on a cross from Openda, a goal that was also canceled due to a handball by the ex-Lens player.”

© L’Equipe

La Gazzetta dello Sport

“Surprisingly, Calzona wins the Italian bank derby against Tedesco in Group E. Lukaku missed at least three good chances to score and now De Bruyne and his teammates already have their backs against the wall. It was pretty much typical Belgium, which obviously had more quality, but canceled it out in the last thirty meters with too much inaccuracy. Slovakia, it must be said, did their thing and did not just play a supporting role, especially in the first half. They were sharp and had clear ideas. However, in the second half the Slovaks withdrew en masse. Belgium charged headlong, but always without that extra touch of clarity that could make the difference. Slovakia defended and was helped by the VAR. Hands in the hair at the end of the match for De Bruyne and his teammates. But: whoever digs a hole for himself…”

2024-06-18 05:56:58
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