UEFA Euro 2024 Group Stage
23 June, 2024 - Indian Date
Cologne Stadium
MATCH TIMES
India
12:30 AM
UAE
11:00 PM
Saudi Arabia
9:45 PM
LIVE INFO
Belgium possible starting lineup: Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate; Tielemans, Onana; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; Lukaku
Romania possible starting lineup: Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; R. Marin, M. Marin, Stanciu; Man, Dragus, Mihaila
Match Preview
In a crucial Euro 2024 encounter, Belgium faces Romania after suffering a surprising 1-0 defeat to Slovakia in their opening Group E match. Domenico Tedesco's team experienced a frustrating start, conceding early and facing setbacks with disallowed goals for Romelu Lukaku. This defeat ended Belgium's 15-match unbeaten streak and puts them in a precarious position, currently third in the group.
Belgium's historical resilience in European Championships faces a significant test, as they aim to avoid consecutive losses for the first time since Euro 2000 and prevent their earliest major tournament exit since the 1930 World Cup. Their fate could worsen depending on Slovakia's result against Ukraine before their match with Romania.
On the other hand, Romania enters the match with confidence after a stunning 3-0 victory over Ukraine, marking their largest win in Euros history. Standout performances and defensive errors from Ukraine contributed to Romania's success, with Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin, and Denis Dragus finding the net. Romania's recent form has been solid, with only one defeat in their last 16 matches, highlighting their defensive prowess with three consecutive clean sheets.
A win for Romania against Belgium would secure their spot in the knockout stages with a match to spare, a remarkable achievement given their past Euro performances. Their morale is high, especially after defeating Belgium 2-1 in a 2012 friendly, and they will look to capitalize on Belgium's vulnerabilities to continue their impressive run in Cologne.
The match promises high stakes for both teams: Belgium seeks redemption and advancement, while Romania aims to consolidate their position atop Group E. With qualification implications hanging in the balance, Saturday's clash is set to be a defining moment in their Euro 2024 campaigns.