Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE: Euro 2024 team news, line-ups as Kevin De Bruyne set to start

Euro 2024 continues with Belgium looking to bounce back to form at major tournaments after a thoroughly dreadful 2022 World Cup. Their first task is to take on Slovakia, with the Red Devils hopeful that Kevin De Bruyne will arrive fit and in form to inspire them.

A big decision was taken before the tournament by head coach Domenico Tedesco to leave out Thibaut Courtois, despite the Real Madrid goalkeeper recovering from a season-long injury to play in the Champions League final.

Belgium won their qualification group to get here and their best Euros performance so far was to finish runners-up way back in 1980. Slovakia, who were runners-up in their own qualifying group, are in their third straight finals since – they reached the round of 16 back in 2016, and only the group stage last time out. Follow all the latest news and match action in our live blog below, as well as the build-up to the evening match between Austria and France:

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HT Romania 1-0 Ukraine

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:52

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Half-time! Romania 1-0 Ukraine

45+2 mins: That’s perfect 45 minutes from Romania. They will have hoped to start the tournament well and with their set up they’ll have known that chances would be rare.

Nicolae Stanciu’s opener was a great strike from the edge of the box and could turn out to be decisive in this match. All to play for though in the second half.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:48

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Romania 1-0 Ukraine

44 mins: Dragus and Coman combine on the left for Romania before the forward looks to dart inside. Konoplia times his tackle expertly to recover the ball and feeds it back into Ukraine’s midfield.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:46

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Romania 1-0 Ukraine

41 mins: Ukraine move the ball quickly and almost catch Romania out of position. Sudakov feeds the ball over to Mudryk who laces a dainty pass into the box for Dovbyk.

Burca sticks with the forward and takes the ball off him as it gets rolled into the penalty area. Romania then take over possession.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:43

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Romania 1-0 Ukraine

38 mins: There’s a loud cheer as Romania desperately clear their lines under threat from the trio of Sudakov, Dovbyk and Mudryk. The Romanians manage to scurry the ball away and feed it over to Dennis Man on the right side of the pitch.

He cuts inside and lets fly but the effort narrowly curls wide of the far post.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:39

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Romania 1-0 Ukraine

35 mins: Romania have grown in confidence now too. They’re seeing more of the ball and have brought it higher up the pitch. Dennis Man looks to feed a pass into a crowded penalty area but can’t find a teammate and Ukraine boot the ball clear.

They sweep forward quickly with Mudryk on control of the ball. He brings it to the side of the box before whipping in a cross. Radu Dragusin throws himself at the ball to deal with it and heads a clearance over the crossbar.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:37

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Romania 1-0 Ukraine

32 mins: You could say the goal came against the run of play but it is what Romania have been setting up for. Defend deep and tight before taking a chance at the other end.

They were fortunate to capitalise on an error from the goalkeeper but it was their pressing that forced the error in the first place. Good goal.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:33

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GOAL! Romania 1-0 Ukraine (Stanciu, 29’)⚽️

29 mins: Romania score first!

It’s mistake from Andriy Lunin. The goalkeeper is put under pressure from Denis Dragus and gives the ball away with a poor clearance.

It’s quickly slotted across to Nicolae Stanciu who hooks a first time effort from the edge of the box towards goal and nails it. The effort is superb, it beats Lunin and finishes in the back of the net!

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:31

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Romania 0-0 Ukraine

27 mins: Wonderful work from Denis Dragus after Romania overturn the ball in midfield. He carries it forward, darts into the box and wins a corner for his team.

The ball is whipped into the box but after a little scramble, Ukraine belt it away.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:28

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Romania 0-0 Ukraine

24 mins: Romania’s defensive shape is tightly packed with little gaps for Ukraine to play through.

They’re resorting to cross field passes and runs down the two wings to generate space but they quickly turn into backwards passes, very reminiscent of England’s performance yesterday, when they come up against the next defender.

Mike Jones17 June 2024 14:27

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