We’re nine days into Euro 2024 and the tournament is approaching the stage where things start to get really serious.
Poland became the first team to be eliminated on Friday after the second group stage match, and others are likely to follow suit soon after.
Belgium, ranked third in the world, suffered a shock defeat to Slovakia in their opening match and could have been in danger of elimination if they had pulled off another upset on Saturday, but they started well in Group E with a 2-0 win over Romania.
Two Group F matches were played earlier in the day and, as always, Cristiano Ronaldo was the centre of attention in the match between Portugal and Turkey.
Though Ronaldo didn’t score, he did provide an assist and was approached by an unprecedented seven pitch invaders as his team won 3-0 and advanced to the round of 16. In the same group, a US-based striker came close to making history against Georgia.
Our reporter looks back at the key moments from another exciting day at the European Championships.
UEFA’s problem with pitch invaders
There’s always been a circus around Cristiano Ronaldo – and yes, it’s only natural as he’s one of the greatest and most famous footballers of all time – but it’s gone to new lows with the cult following which invades the pitch in desperate hopes of getting a photo of their hero.
Ronaldo was instrumental in Portugal’s victory over Turkey, a result that ensured they finished top of Group F.
He missed his team’s first two goals for some bizarre reason – he was rolling around theatrically in the penalty area during Bernardo Silva’s opener and was busy scolding team-mate Joao Cancelo for a mispass during Turkey’s Samet Akaydin’s ludicrous own goal.
But he later showed his unselfish side by setting up Bruno Fernandes for Portugal’s third goal when he could have easily scored himself.
But that was only part of an eventful night for him.
In the second half, two players entered the pitch, both heading straight towards the 39-year-old player.
One of them was a child, and Ronaldo welcomed him with open arms and posed for photographs.
Another adult man put his arms tightly around the Portugal striker’s neck and nearly grappled him, but Ronaldo broke free and the man had a cup thrown at him as he was dragged away.
Cristiano Ronaldo grew increasingly frustrated as more invaders appeared on the pitch (Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images)
The situation became serious at the end of the match when security failed to stop him from entering the pitch and several people lunged at Ronaldo from all angles.
The man, who appeared to be wearing a Turkish shirt, was stopped well before he could get close to Ronaldo.
As the players slowly walked around the pitch, applauding the fans, the Portugal captain saw the next player, and he stood there with his arms outstretched in frustration, hoping the security guards would get to him first, which they did, but one of them bumped into Gonzalo Ramos, who was sent off and limped to his feet.
A total of seven people invaded the pitch, all trying to take a selfie with Ronaldo.
“I understand it was a difficult moment, if the intention was wrong the players are put at risk,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said. “A message should be sent to the fans, it’s not the right way to go, nothing will be gained and the (safety) measures will only be stricter.”
UEFA needs to get a firm grasp on the situation as the safety of Ronaldo and his teammates is at risk, and European football’s governing body said it was waiting for reports from the referee and other officials before deciding what action to take.
Tim Spiers
Belgium is back in business… mostly
With 10 minutes left until the end of the Belgium vs. Romania match, Them A night on the world stage for just about every player in football.
Having lost their opening match on Monday to Slovakia, Belgium suffered the biggest statistical upset in the history of the tournament based on their standings, but then beat Romania in Cologne by… er, 1-0.
A beautiful goal from Youri Tielemans after 73 seconds suggested it would be a cathartic night for FIFA’s third-best team in the world, but after 78 minutes, 55 attacks, 18 chances and one disallowed goal they still led by the most precarious margin in football and Romania refused to give up.
Romelu Lukaku seemed to be the most frustrated of all, as just when things were looking a little easier after 60 minutes, Belgium’s record scorer was called offside by UEFA’s new semi-automated offside system – unnoticed by anyone else.
Although the 31-year-old officially plays for Chelsea, his hat-trick came in a most unlucky outcome after two goals against Slovakia were disallowed following video review.
But just when it seemed like his struggles might at least be part of the story, the best player of the night, Kevin de Bruyne, showed him that with a textbook striker’s finish. The goal, which came from Belgium goalkeeper Koen Castells smashing the ball up the pitch, was inconsistent with pretty much everything else we saw in the game.
Romania continued to challenge until the final whistle, as did Belgium, with Lukaku twice approaching 85 goals for Belgium, but the game finished 2-0, which, while a fair reflection of the balance of the match, did not justify the value of the chances created by both teams.
Group E is now evenly matched, with all four teams on three points heading into Wednesday’s final games — Belgium plays Ukraine and Romania plays Slovakia — and Lukaku will score with a deflection, a tap-in and a penalty.
Matt Slater
The Georgia and US-based forward’s struggles
Lionel Messi was watching from the other end of the pitch when Sava Lobjanidze scored his last official goal. He scored two goals for Atlanta United against Inter Miami in May, just before joining Georgia for Euro 2024. They were beautiful curling shots from outside the area, one with his right foot and one with his left, goals that the great Messi himself would have been delighted with.
Georgia have earned themselves some impressive points but face an uphill task to qualify for the knockout stages. (Gabriel Bouy/AFP via Getty Images)
But that’s how football can be deceiving. Those goals were for naught when, in the Georgia-Czech Republic match, with the score at 1-1 and heading into the final seconds of added time, the ball fell to Lobjanidze after a quick, 3-on-1 counter attack.
He was about 12 yards from goal and unmarked, with only Czech Republic goalkeeper Jendrij Stanek standing between him and glory. The Czech Republic were so close to winning their first European Championship game, and the goal would have likely sealed a place in the knockout stages as well. It’s no exaggeration to say it was a great footballing moment for Germany’s bottom-ranked team.
But moments like that don’t come easily in a match. Lobyanidze fired a shot over the bar. The final whistle blew and the moment was gone. It wasn’t an open goal, nor the easiest chance he’d ever had, but it was a moment he’ll see countless times if he closes his eyes.
Nick Miller
What’s next?
Things will really get serious on Sunday as the final round of group play gets underway, with Group A being the deciding factor.
(Top photo: Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sports Images/Getty Images)
