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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul MacInnes in Cologne

Belgium feel the heat after Slovakia setback leaves no margin for error

Belgium react after their opening defeat
Belgium’s defeat against Slovakia has put them under pressure in one of the tightest groups. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Belgium are not quite in crisis. They are a side who have had to deal with serious disappointment in their past two tournaments. And a country that went without a government for nearly two years. They are experienced in instability. But still, being on the wrong end of the sole shock result of the tournament so far is not an ideal place to be.

Slovakia struck early in Frankfurt with a canny piece of opportunism and held on for the rest of the game as Belgium dominated, created chances, but failed to take them (and when they did, saw them ruled out twice by VAR). Slovakia’s subsequent defeat by Ukraine on Friday means that, should Belgium beat Romania in Cologne on Saturday, Group E will be all square. Now all Belgium must do is work out how to find a solution to their immediate woes, even if a number of longer-term concerns remain.

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