Belgium Bounce Back in Win Over Romania
After a disastrous opening match of Euro 2024 for Belgium, losing to Slovakia, the Red Devils rebounded with a 2-0 win over Romania. The goals came from Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne. After really lacking edge in the final third of game one, Tielemans scored in less than three minutes against Romania, with De Bruyne planting the dagger in the 79th minute. It was a much-needed result in a nip-and-tuck group.
Belgium does two things really well offensively: they run the break, and they play through their target man Romelu Lukaku. Those were the themes of the game. Tielemans’ early goal came through some great hold-up play in the box from Lukaku, laying the ball back to the midfielder who guided it into the net. Being a Manchester City winger, it makes sense that Jeremy Doku is very comfortable cutting in with his right foot and sliding the ball into the box to the striker posting up a defender. It brings the best out of the two players, with Doku and Lukaku playing strong games against Romania. Lukaku also assisted De Bruyne’s goal with a flick-on header. More good target-man play from the big man. As for Belgium’s ability to run the break, that runs through their best player, Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne has been the best at this for years like Magic Johnson running a transition for the Showtime Lakers. When he has space bearing down on goal, he always makes the right play, putting Belgium in the most likely spot to score. Look for these two key components of Belgium’s offense going forward in the Euros.
Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo appear to be in some kind of competition for who can gesture to a teammate that they were open for a shot after a chance goes begging the most. Jokes aside, Lukaku plays with such passion. You can see what finding the net means to him, even though VAR is constantly denying him the credit he desires at this tournament. I know that he hasn’t been in great scoring form lately, but I’m not sure there has been a busier striker at the Euros, and there is something to be said about that. He’s like a three-point shooter who is getting clean looks but can’t knock down a shot. Once he gets one, he might just get hot. Look out.
Defensively, Belgium are still shaky. Over the past decade, their team was referred to as a “golden generation” not just because of attacking talent like Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and De Bruyne. They always had a reliable back three of Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, and Toby Alderweireld, plus Thibaut Courtois in goal. That group has aged out, and while the new crop has potential, the only chances Belgium seems to be giving up are coming off of silly giveaways. That is the biggest thing they need to clean up. In midfield, I do want to give mention to Amadou Onana, who has put together two good games so far at Euro 2024.
Belgium’s win sets up an incredible final day for Group E, with all three teams on three points. They will all play at noon Eastern on June 26th. They look to have gotten some of their swagger back. De Bruyne has been their only truly excellent player so far at the tournament, but Doku, Lukaku, and Onana have begun to hit their stride. If those players can keep it up and the defense can tighten up with ball security, who knows? Maybe Belgium’s “golden generation” isn’t dead yet?
