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Georgia earned its first-ever point at a major tournament in a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic at Euro 2024 on Saturday.
Video reviews were in the spotlight as the Czechs had a goal for Adam Hlozek disallowed for hand ball. Georgia, the only team making its debut at Euro 2024, then took the lead with a Georges Mikautadze penalty given for hand ball by Czech defender Robin Hranec.
The Czech team got back into the game when a header rebounded off the post and Patrik Schick scored with his chest. Schick went off with a calf injury soon after.
Georgia could have won but Saba Lobjanidze shot narrowly over the bar with the last kick of the game on a counterattack.
The draw means that both teams almost certainly require a win in their last group games to qualify for the knockout stages. Turkey and Portugal are the other two teams in Group F. They play later Saturday.
Follow all the reaction from Georgia v Czech Republic below - plus build-up to Turkey v Portugal at Euro 2024:
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Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne embody the best and worst of Belgium in vital win over Romania
Romelu Lukaku stood with his back not only to goal, but to the raucous mass of crimson behind it. From somewhere within that throng, a plume of red smoke billowed towards the roof of the stadium. It might as well have been a warning to Romania, but just one minute into this critical Euro 2024 clash, they did not have time to heed it.
Lukaku, so often maligned for his endeavours with Belgium, executed his hold-up to perfection, fending off Andrei Burca and cushioning the ball into the stride of Youri Tielemans. The midfielder did the rest, driving the ball low and hard past Florin Nita.
Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne embody the best and worst of Belgium in vital win
Belgium 2-0 Romania: Lukaku provided an assist and Kevin De Bruyne later scored in their must-win game
Mike Jones22 June 2024 22:03
FT Belgium 2-0 Romania
Kevin De Bruyne was been named Player of the Match.
Uefa’s Technical Observer Panel said: “He made the difference for Belgium as they claimed their first points. Once again, he was the key player for his side.”
Mike Jones22 June 2024 22:00
FT Belgium 2-0 Romania
Four teams are all locked on three points. Group E is going down to a final day shootout next Wednesday. Here are the two fixtures:
Slovakia vs Romania
Ukraine vs Belgium
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:56
Full-time! Belgium 2-0 Romania
90+4 mins: Belgium get the job done!
After a shock defeat to Slovakia in their opening match, Belgium needed to come here and get the win. The consequences of beating Romania mean that all four teams in Group E have three points after two games each.
It will be a nail-biting end to the group stages for all of them. Youri Tielemans and Kevin De Bruyne scored the goals, Belgium take the win and move one step closer to the last-16.
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:50
Belgium 2-0 Romania
90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play.
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:46
Belgium 2-0 Romania
85 mins: Belgium try to put the game to bed with Leandro Trossard slipped into the box on the right hand side. He holds onto the ball a little too long and his square pass to Lukaku is blocked and cleared.
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:42
Belgium 2-0 Romania
82 mins: That goal should be enough for Belgium. There was a VAR check to see whether the goal should stand as De Bruyne was possibly offside.
The result fell Belgium’s way and they have a two goal lead at last.
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:38
GOAL! Belgium 2-0 Romania (De Bruyne, 79’)⚽️
79 mins: Has Kevin De Bruyne won this game for Belgium?
A hopeful ball is punted up the pitch by Koen Casteels and drops beautifully for De Bruyne who makes a run in between the centre-backs.
As the ball bounces into the box, De Bruyne beats Florin Nita to it and pokes it into the ground, past the goalkeeper and over the line.
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:37
Belgium 1-0 Romania
78 mins: Yannick Carrasco and Orel Mangala have been brought on for Belgium with goalscorer Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku being replaced.
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:35
Belgium 1-0 Romania
75 mins: 15 minutes to play in Cologne. Belgium are firmly in the game management mode with substitutes being brought on to shore up the defence and keep Romania at bay.
Mike Jones22 June 2024 21:32
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