With his goal against Romania on Saturday, Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa gave Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign new life. The midfielder’s goal came after just 73 seconds.
Had Domenico Tedesco’s team lost twice in a row in Group E, they would have been in danger of going out.
But Tielemans’ second-minute strike in Cologne eased fears of yet another major tournament flop from star-studded Belgium.
Kevin De Bruyne wrapped up the points in the closing stages to leave all four teams in the group level on three points.
In the race to make it to the round of16, the stage is set for an exciting final round of matches.
Romania plays Slovakia on June 26 while Belgium plays Ukraine.
With 45 rungs separating the two nations in FIFA’s rankings, third-placed Belgium’s 1-0 loss to Slovakia on Monday was the biggest upset in European Championship history.
Romania, ranked in 47th place, competed gamely as they chased their own shock, but this time Belgium’s superior class proved decisive.
Having bowed out at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup and lost in the quarter-finals of the last two Euros, Belgium’s golden generation have given themselves fresh hope of finally delivering on their vast potential.
Romania had powered to a 3-0 win against Ukraine on Monday — their first victory in a major tournament since beating England at Euro 2000.
Edward Iordanescu’s team still has a chance to advance to the European knockout stage for the first time in twenty-four years despite this defeat.
Since scoring against Canada in the previous World Cup, Belgium had been without a goal in more than 300 minutes at major competitions.
It took them less than two minutes to break that streak.
