Belgium v Romania LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score as Kevin De Bruyne goal seals crucial Group E win

Romelu Lukaku stood with his back not only to goal, but to the raucous mass of crimson behind it. From somewhere within that throng, a plume of red smoke billowed towards the roof of the stadium. It might as well have been a warning to Romania, but just one minute into this critical Euro 2024 clash, they did not have time to heed it.

Lukaku, so often maligned for his endeavours with Belgium, executed his hold-up to perfection, fending off Andrei Burca and cushioning the ball into the stride of Youri Tielemans. The midfielder did the rest, driving the ball low and hard past Florin Nita.

Kevin De Bruyne was been named Player of the Match.

Uefa’s Technical Observer Panel said: “He made the difference for Belgium as they claimed their first points. Once again, he was the key player for his side.”

Four teams are all locked on three points. Group E is going down to a final day shootout next Wednesday. Here are the two fixtures:

Slovakia vs Romania

Ukraine vs Belgium

90+4 mins: Belgium get the job done!

After a shock defeat to Slovakia in their opening match, Belgium needed to come here and get the win. The consequences of beating Romania mean that all four teams in Group E have three points after two games each.

It will be a nail-biting end to the group stages for all of them. Youri Tielemans and Kevin De Bruyne scored the goals, Belgium take the win and move one step closer to the last-16.

90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play.

85 mins: Belgium try to put the game to bed with Leandro Trossard slipped into the box on the right hand side. He holds onto the ball a little too long and his square pass to Lukaku is blocked and cleared.

82 mins: That goal should be enough for Belgium. There was a VAR check to see whether the goal should stand as De Bruyne was possibly offside.

The result fell Belgium’s way and they have a two goal lead at last.

79 mins: Has Kevin De Bruyne won this game for Belgium?

A hopeful ball is punted up the pitch by Koen Casteels and drops beautifully for De Bruyne who makes a run in between the centre-backs.

As the ball bounces into the box, De Bruyne beats Florin Nita to it and pokes it into the ground, past the goalkeeper and over the line.

78 mins: Yannick Carrasco and Orel Mangala have been brought on for Belgium with goalscorer Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku being replaced.

75 mins: 15 minutes to play in Cologne. Belgium are firmly in the game management mode with substitutes being brought on to shore up the defence and keep Romania at bay.