Too close for comfort: Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku jumps for a header with William Saliba of France during their last-16 match. — AP
DUESSELDORF: Domenico Tedesco was left ruing Belgium’s luck after Jan Vertonghen’s late own goal ended their Euro 2024 campaign and sent France into the quarter-finals.
Vertonghen diverted Randal Kolo Muani’s mis-hit attempt into his own net with five minutes remaining in Duesseldorf as talent-packed Belgium again disappointed in a major international tournament.
“One hour after the final whistle and after conceding a goal in minute 86, it’s very difficult to go into analysis for me,” Tedesco told reporters.
“You can’t really say that we were lucky this tournament if you see the first games and the kind of goal we conceded tonight.”
Belgium were largely on the back foot against France, who wasted a series of good opportunities before good fortune swung their way late on.
And the manner of both Belgium’s display on Monday and their qualification from Group E, after which they were pelted with boos and whistles from fans due to their goalless draw with Ukraine, led to the Red Devils’ courage being questioned.
Tedesco refuted accusations that his team lacked bravery after an unfortunate – if largely deserved – elimination from the Euros.
“I think (against) Slovakia yes (we were brave). You saw Slovakia against England, we pressed them high and we had many chances, the same against Romania as well,” he said.
“The (goalless draw with) Ukraine, yes, the longer these kinds of games are going you have inside the heads of the players that you concede one goal and you are out of the tournament.
“And tonight we played against France and the chances were also there tonight.” Tedesco also defended Romelu Lukaku who leaves Germany with no goals to his name, although the striker had three goals chalked off by VAR decisions in the group stage.
The last, in Belgium’s 2-0 victory over group winners Romania, was ruled out after Lukaku’s big toe was shown to be offside.
“If you think Romelu (Lukaku) will go home with zero goals after these kind of games, and also Jeremy Doku with zero goals and zero assists, for me it’s a pity, it’s unbelievable,” said Tedesco.
“We have a big trust in Romelu, he showed in several moments that he’s the one who can really take the team to another level, that he can score. he’s alway there and dangerous for the opponents.
“He’s had a tough tournament. Normally he’s probably leading scorer after the group stage but you leave this game with zero goals, so it’s not easy.” — AFP
