Belgium's Tedesco left frustrated as Slovakia inflicts shock defeat

FRANKFURT, Germany — Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco admitted he was frustrated by the controversial VAR decision that condemned his side to a shock 1-0 defeat against Slovakia in their Euro 2024 opener on Monday.

Tedesco's team was rocked by Ivan Schranz's seventh-minute goal in Frankfurt, but would have escaped with a draw if Romelu Lukaku's late strike had been allowed to stand.

After missing a host of chances earlier in the Group E clash, Lukaku fired home from Lois Openda's cross in the 86th minute.

But, the striker's celebrations were dramatically curtailed with the players in position to restart the game, as VAR ruled Openda had handled after being shoved into the ball earlier in the attack.

Lukaku also had an earlier goal disallowed for offside when he slotted home from Amadou Onana's header.

"It's tough to speak. If we had won I could tell you more about my opinion. But, we lost, and I want to be seen as a fair manager, so I don't say anything," Tedesco said.

"We have to trust these guys. I trust the VAR. If they decide it's handball, we have to accept it."

Slovakia is 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA's world rankings.

But, Belgium has made a habit of underachieving at major tournaments and, once again, it is in danger of wasting the potential of its talented squad.

The defeat ended Tedesco's 14-game unbeaten run, since he replaced Roberto Martinez as Belgium manager.

"For me it hurts a lot tonight. I don't want to point the finger at people. You can be sure we will speak about many things, but we will do it internally and not through the media," Tedesco said.

"I knew we would lose one day, but, unfortunately, it was today. Honestly, there is not much I can say to the team to improve.

"We created many chances, big chances. Of course if we take one, then it makes the game easier."

Lukaku set a competition record of 14 goals in a qualifying group last year, and has a record 85 for Belgium, yet somehow failed to score in a wasteful first half, including two chances before Slovakia took the lead.

On Lukaku's remarkably profligate performance, he added: "Romelu has been playing for Belgium for a long time. He knows how to score goals, I don't need to tell him that. He is a top-class player with great character."

Slovakia's deserved lead was preserved by defender David Hancko's brave goal-line block, which left him sprawled in the netting with a facial injury inflicted by a teammate's knee.

Fortunately, Hancko returned to play on after treatment.

At the final whistle, the Slovakia squad and staff danced in front of their fans among the 45,181 crowd at the Waldstadion, as their choice of victory music, the modern soccer anthem Freed From Desire, boomed out of the stadium's speakers.

"This win means a lot, not just for me, but the whole Slovak nation," said midfielder Stanislav Lobotka who was named player of the game. "Maybe not everyone believed in us."

Belgium faces Romania, which ran out a 3-0 winner against Ukraine on Monday, in what will now be a crucial clash on Saturday.

Another loss would likely end Belgium's hopes of reaching the knockout stages, and Tedesco said: "Naturally everyone is disappointed, but you can harness that. You can make use of it.

"I always said our group would be very tricky and that we shouldn't assume that we will go through."

AFP