In a dramatic European Championship Group E encounter, Slovakia secured a surprising 1-0 victory over Belgium, marking the latter's first loss in 16 games under coach Domenico Tedesco. The match, held in Frankfurt, Germany, saw Slovakia's Ivan Schranz score the fastest goal at a major tournament for his side.

Belgium, often hailed as a formidable force in international football, faced a challenging day as they struggled to find the back of the net despite creating numerous scoring opportunities. Two goals from striker Romelu Lukaku were disallowed by VAR, intensifying Belgium's frustrations.

Coach Tedesco remained optimistic despite the defeat, stating that it was only a matter of time before Belgium faced a loss. He praised his team's efforts and the multitude of chances they created throughout the game. Slovakia, on the other hand, displayed exceptional defensive discipline, celebrating every tackle as if it were a goal.

The match's decisive moment arrived in the sixth minute when Belgium's defensive uncertainty allowed Slovakia to capitalize. A poor clearance from left-winger Jérémy Doku led to a goal by Schranz from a tight angle. Belgium's Lukaku came agonizingly close to equalizing, but Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka pulled off a remarkable save.

As the game progressed, Lukaku had another disallowed goal late in the second half. VAR ruled that substitute Loïs Openda had played the ball with his hand in the buildup before crossing it to Lukaku. Despite the disappointment, Tedesco acknowledged the decisions made by the referees and VAR, emphasizing the need to accept them graciously.

With this defeat, Belgium failed to secure their preferred central defensive pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate, while also lacking balance due to players playing in unfamiliar positions. Nevertheless, Tedesco remained confident in the team's abilities and urged them to bounce back in their upcoming match against Romania.

The victory catapulted Slovakia to the top of Group E alongside Romania, who secured a commanding 3-0 win over Ukraine earlier in the day in Munich. Reflecting on the match, Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona acknowledged the progress made by smaller nations in international football, but also recognized the significant gap that still exists.

Belgium will have to regroup and address their shortcomings as they aim to assert their dominance in the upcoming matches. The closely contested encounter with Slovakia serves as a reminder that talent alone is not enough to secure victory at the European Championship.