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Tag: Belgium

  • Calafiori warns Arsenal teammate ahead of Italy, Belgium clash

    Calafiori warns Arsenal teammate ahead of Italy, Belgium clash

    Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has told Leandro Trossard to watch out this week.

    The two club teammates are taking on each other at the Stadio Olimpico as Italy play Belgium.

    Both teams are hoping they can win the Nations League, with Italy currently top of Group A2 with six points.

    Calafiori stated: “I told him to watch out!

    “Joking aside, he is a great player and also a great friend, but I will still try to take home the three points. It is going to be a complicated match, they have strong players, as do we.

    “I prefer to focus on ourselves, because if we play the way we know how, then we can cause problems for any opponent. We did so well in the last two games and don’t want to stop now.”

  • Euro 2024: Jan Vertonghen blamed for Belgium’s elimination

    Euro 2024: Jan Vertonghen blamed for Belgium’s elimination

    Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has stated that Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen should be held responsible for his team’s 1-0 loss to France in their Round of 16 clash at Euro 2024.l on Monday evening.

     

    Both teams held their own in the first half in Düsseldorf, resulting in no goals.

    However, in the second half, Kolo Muani’s late strike deflected off Vertonghen and beat goalkeeper  Casteels, securing a victory for Didier Deschamps’ side.The results dented Belgium’s hopes of advancing or even  winning the tournament.

    France will play Portugal who defeated Slovenia 3-0 on penalties to advance to  the quarter Q-final of the tournament.

  • Euro 2024: France send Belgium packing after slim 1-0 win

    Euro 2024: France send Belgium packing after slim 1-0 win

    The Les Blues of France advanced to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 on Monday evening by defeating Belgium 1-0, thanks to an own goal by Jan Vertonghen in the final minutes of the encounter.

    After a goalless first half, both teams struggled to find the back of the net in the second half. It wasn’t until the 89th minute that substitute Randal Kolo Muani’s shot deflected off Vertonghen, wrong-footing goalkeeper Koen Casteels and resulting in the decisive goal.

    Jules Kounde scooped the man of the match award after his heroics in the game.

    This victory secured France’s place in the last eight of the tournament and now await the winner of Portugal vs Slovenia.

  • Euro 2024: Romania play 1-1 with Slovakia, overtake Belgium to top group E

    Euro 2024: Romania play 1-1 with Slovakia, overtake Belgium to top group E

    Romania has reached the last 16 of the European championship for the first time in many years after playing out a 1-1 draw in their last Group E game on Wednesday.

    Ondrej Duda scored first for Slovakia in the first 45 minutes but t Romania’s Razvan Marin equalised with a penalty before the interval.

    Romania finished top having scored more goals than second-placed Belgium. the two other teams also finished on four points.

    Slovakia went through in third place thanks to a superior goal difference to fourth-placed Ukraine.

    Romania had only qualified once for the last 16 in their five Euro appearances, but Edward Iordanescu’s tenacious side have ended that long drought.

    They responded to Iordanescu’s pre-match challenge to make “history” with a combative display fuelled by their army of vociferous fans, who turned the stadium into a sea of yellow.

  • Euro 2024: Ivan Schranz shines as Slovakia shock Belgium 1-0

    Euro 2024: Ivan Schranz shines as Slovakia shock Belgium 1-0

    Slovakia on Monday night shocked Belgium 1-0 at the ongoing Euro 2024 championship.

    Slovakia got an early goal and defended furiously to hold on for a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Group E.

    Ivan Schranz took advantage of a horror defensive error to put Slovakia ahead in the seventh minute and kept Belgium at bay with increasing desperation to secure an unexpected triumph at the Frankfurt Arena.

     

    Belgium’s top scorer Romelu Lukaku twice had the ball in the net but was denied after VAR checks, first for offside in the 56th minute and min from the end when Lois Openda was adjudged to have handled in the build-up before the striker swept the ball into the net.

     

    The result meant Slovakia are currently occupying the second position in Group E behind Romania while Belgium are on third position on the log.

     

    Ukraine who got thrashed 3-0 by Romania are occupying the last on the group after the first round of group E matches.

  • Insecurity: Central Brussels shooting leaves four severely wounded

    Insecurity: Central Brussels shooting leaves four severely wounded

    Four people have been severely injured after being caught up in a shooting spree in central Brussels shopping street on Wednesday, the Police have said.

    It was reported that the assailants had left the scene by the time the police arrived after being called at about 7:30 pm (1830 GMT), police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere told AFP.

    “At this point, there is nothing to make us think it was a terrorist act,” she said.

    One of the wounded is in critical condition.

    The shots were fired on the Avenue de la Toison d’Or, a busy commercial street near a covered passageway featuring upscale fashion boutiques.

    The passageway was evacuated, according to Belgian media.

  • Eden Hazard ends football career

    Eden Hazard ends football career

    Former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard has announced his retirement from football.

    Hazard, 32, joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 for £89m, but played just 54 league games for the Spanish giants and left the club at the end of last season.

    He won two Premier League titles during his time at Stamford Bridge.

    “You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time,” said Hazard, who has been a free agent since his contract was terminated in June.

    “After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer.”

    The Belgian had already retired from international football last December after being part of the squad which was knocked out of the 2022 World Cup during the group stage.

    At Real Madrid, Hazard won the Champions League, a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup, two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups. But his time in Spain is widely considered disappointing – he scored just 7 goals in 76 appearances in all competitions.

    Hazard started his career with French club Lille, scoring 50 goals in 149 appearances and helping the club to win a domestic double of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 2010-11.

    He moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2012, signing for a reported £32m and went on to become a club great, winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2014-15.

    Hazard scored 110 goals across 352 appearances for the Blues, including the winner in the 2019 Europa League final against Arsenal in his final appearance for the club.

    He is also one of only four players in Premier League history – alongside Thierry Henry, Matt Le Tissier and Eric Cantona – to score 15 or more goals and provide 15 or more assists in a single season, having netted 16 times and laid on 15 assists during the 2018-19 campaign.

    “During my career I was lucky to meet great managers, coaches and teammates – thank you to everyone for these great times, I will miss you all,” Hazard added on social media.

    “I also want to thank the clubs I have played for: LOSC, Chelsea and Real Madrid; and thank the RBFA for my Belgian selection.

    “A special thank you to my family, my friends, my advisors and the people who have been close to me in good times and bad.

    “Finally, a huge thank you to you, my fans, who have followed me for all these years and for your encouragement everywhere I have played.

    “Now is the time to enjoy my loved ones and have new experiences. See you off the field soon my friends.”

    After making his international debut against Luxembourg in 2008, Hazard earned 126 Belgium caps and scored 33 goals. He featured at three World Cups and two European Championships, as well as captaining the team 56 times.

    He found the net three times at the 2018 World Cup when Belgium finished third, including a strike against England in the third-place play-off.

    BBC

  • How Lukaku convinced me about Everton – Onana

    How Lukaku convinced me about Everton – Onana

    Former Manchester United and Everton star Romelu Lukaku played a role in Amadou Onana signing for Everton a year ago.

    The midfielder is now a United target, as manager Erik ten Hag seeks to bolster his midfield.

    While Lukaku may not have left United on the best of terms, he played a critical role in convincing his countryman Onana to sign for Everton when they were in for him last summer.

    “I know it [Everton] is a big, big club,” Onana revealed, per The Mirror.

    “I know about the rivalry between Everton and Liverpool and I have heard about it from Rom [Lukaku].

    “He told me all about the club. The relations between Belgians and this club have been successful so why not with me?”

  • Hazard mocks Real Madrid over retirement claims

    Hazard mocks Real Madrid over retirement claims

    Eden Hazard has rubbished claims of retirement and taken a swipe at Real Madrid as he leaves the Spanish giants.

    Hazard has agreed to cut short his Real contract a year early, sparking talk of him hanging up the boots.

    But the former Chelsea captain told RTBF: : “Honestly, I still don’t know what I’ll do.

    “After three difficult years i just want to spend time with my family, go on holiday like everyone does. I read a lot about myself these days, a lot of stupid stuff.

    “Going to RWDM with my brother? I don’t know if it’s a stupid thing, we will see…

    “Honestly, I still don’t have the answers.

    “That said, I’m still able to be a professional footballer, my physique can do it. I rested for two-three years, I still have energy.”

  • ‘A chapter ends today’ – Eden Hazard announces retirement

    ‘A chapter ends today’ – Eden Hazard announces retirement

    Real Madrid midfielder Eden Hazard has announced his international retirement.

    Hazard has decided to end his time with Belgium after their World Cup flop.

    The former Chelsea captain posted to social media: “A chapter ends today.

    “Thank you for your love and incomparable support. Thank you for all the joy we have shared since 2018.

    “I decided to stop my national team career. The heirs are ready. I will miss you.”

    Edge players reached 126 national matches for Belgium with 33 goals.