Euro Shocker: Belgium Stun by Slovakia

At the start of the last decade, Belgium’s "Golden Generation" became a familiar phrase in football discussions. After the era of Enzo Scifo and Jan Ceulemans, a wave of young, promising talent—Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku—seemed poised to lead the Red Devils to new heights. Expectations were sky-high, yet despite their skill and promise, Belgium’s journey has been marked by a sense of unfulfilled potential. A recent defeat to Slovakia in Frankfurt has only underscored this narrative, with Belgium’s prized generation now showing signs of fracture.

The match began in an unsettling fashion for Belgium. Within seven minutes, a defensive lapse left space for Ivan Schranz, whose composed finish put Slovakia ahead. The Belgian defense appeared scattered, and in the opening half, they left critical gaps that Slovakia readily exploited. Lukaku, spearheading Belgium’s attack, was active but lacked the clinical edge. He generated more expected goals (xG) than Slovakia’s entire side and displayed flashes of brilliance, yet inconsistency marred his performance. His first clear finish was overruled due to a narrow offside call, and other opportunities slipped by due to heavy touches and misplaced efforts.

Late in the game, Lukaku found the net once more, only to be denied by VAR, which detected a handball from Openda in the buildup—a fine margin identified by Snickometer technology, more commonly seen in cricket’s LBW calls. Before this disallowed goal, Belgium had squandered several chances, with Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, and Johan Bakayoko each missing their mark.

Perhaps the most confounding moment came from Jeremy Doku. When tracking back to neutralize Slovakia’s first major attack, Doku regained possession in his own box but opted for a short pass to Wout Faes. Schranz quickly intercepted, and a chaotic sequence ensued. Robert Bozenik’s initial strike was blocked by Koen Casteels, but Schranz capitalized on the rebound, driving the ball low and decisively across the goal.

As the final whistle blew, Belgium’s Golden Generation was left to contemplate a puzzlingly subdued performance against Slovakia’s underdog side. For a team so often lauded for their skill and depth, this match exposed a familiar frustration: an undeniable abundance of talent without the consistency to match it. Once again, the Red Devils are left questioning how to bridge the gap between promise and achievement.

Note: Excerpts from the The Guardian

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Faisal Caesar