Belgium 3 - 0 Republic of Ireland | 2016 - UEFA Euro | 2017955

UEFA European ChampionshipFinal Tournament - Group Stage | Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

18 June 2016 - 15:00CET

Belgium 3 - 0 Republic of Ireland

R. Lukaku(48, 70) Witsel(61) Full-time

Report
Preview
Lineups
Minute by Minute Commentary
Statistics
Gallery

REPORT: Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland suffered defeat in their second Group E game after an impressive second-half display from Belgium.

18th Jun 2016

After a goalless first-half, the Belgians made their pressure tell in the second 45 minutes with a brace from Romelu Lukaku and a header from midfielder Axel Witsel.

Martin O'Neill made just one change to the side which claimed a point against Sweden with Stephen Ward coming into the side for the injured Jon Walters, a change which saw Robbie Brady start in midfield.

A defensive, hard-working display was always going to be required against a Belgian side which featured Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea winger Eden Hazard.

It was De Bruyne's corner from the right which saw Toby Alderweireld glance wide in the 13th minute before Hazard fired a warning when he picked up a loose ball in the area, but blasted over eight minutes later.

Marc Wilmots' side thought they had taken the lead with 24 minutes gone. De Bruyne crossed for Yannick Carrasco to force the ball home at the second attempt following an excellent Darren Randulph save, but the Irish defence stepped up at the right time to see the flag raised.

Two minutes after the break, Belgium did take the lead. De Bruyne broke down the right following an Irish attack to find Lukaku just outside the area and he swept home to score Belgium's first goal of the European Championships.

Ireland responded well with several crosses from Brady just out of the reach of Long and Brady had a shot blocked from within the area by Thomas Meunier in the 58th minute.

Belgium doubled their lead just three minutes later as Meunier found space on the right to cross for Witsel to ghost in and head home unchallenged.

As Ireland committed more players forward, Belgium exploited the space left at the back to stretch their advantage. In the 69th minute, Hazard skipped past the challenge of Ciaran Clark to find Lukaku who made no mistake from 10 yards out to seal the points.

Ireland continued to work hard on and off the ball in the late stages of the game as striker Robbie Keane was introduced with 12 minutes remaining, but couldn't get the goal Ireland's play deserved.

Belgium move up to second in Group E with Ireland now dependent on a win against leaders Italy in their final group game to stand any chance of progression to the knock-out stages.

Teams

Republic of Ireland: Randalph (GK), Coleman, O'Shea (C), Clark, Ward, Whelan, McCarthy (McClean 63), Hendrick, Brady, Hoolahan (McGeady 73), Long (Keane 78).

Subs not used: Westwood (GK), Given (GK), Keogh, Duffy, Walters, Christie, Meyler, Murphy, Quinn.

Belgium: Courtois (GK), Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Witsel, De Bruyne, R. Lukaku (Benteke 83), Hazard (C), Carrasco (Mertens 63), Meunier, Dembele (Nainggolan 56).

Subs not used: Mignolet (GK), Gillet (GK), Fellaini, Denayer, Origi, Kabasele, J. Lukaku, Batshuayi, Ciman.

Yellow card(s): Hendrick (41).

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (TUR)

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Match Day Information: Belgium v Ireland

It's game two of UEFA EURO 2016 for the Republic of Ireland as they take on Belgium in Stade de Bordeaux. Kick-off is 15:00 (14:00 Irish Time).

17th Jun 2016

All supporters without tickets are advised to not travel to the stadium as there are no facilities on site. But those with tickets should allow for more time than normal to access the stadium due to extra security checks and due to the stadium's location.

Fan Zone
Located in Bordeaux centre the UEFA Fan Zone opens from 11:00 but supporters are advised to arrive as early as possible due to security checks.

Gates open at 12:00 where a team of helpful fan ambassadors will be located at the stadium entry points to answer any queries that supporters may have.

For more information visit - http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/fanzone/index.html

Safety Advice

The FAI wishes a safe and immensely enjoyable trip for all our supporters travelling to support the team in France. To help keep supporters informed with useful travel advice, we would like to highlight a new service offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Minister Charlie Flanagan has launched TravelWise, a new smartphone application offering travel advice and connecting Irish citizens with the Department in the case of an emergency.

The application offers users with information on 200 countries, useful travel tips, a handy pre-travel check-list and a facility to register your details with the Embassy. It is also possible to set up alerts for selected countries and receive security updates.

You can access the app in the app store here or in the Google play store here.

Social Media
Follow all the action live on the Official FAI Social Media Channels by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube now!

Official Match Hashtag
#BELIRL

Official Ireland Tags
#COYBIG
#IRL

Match Info
Belgium v Republic of Ireland
Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Group E
KO 15:00 (14:00 Irish Time)
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

Tactical Lineups

Belgium

Substitutes

12 Simon Mignolet (G)
13 Jean-François Gillet (G)
4 Radja Nainggolan
8 Marouane Fellaini
14 Dries Mertens
15 Jason Denayer
17 Divock Origi
18 Christian Kabasele
20 Christian Benteke
21 Jordan Lukaku
22 Michy Batshuayi
23 Laurent Ciman

Republic of Ireland

Substitutes

Officials

Referee Cüneyt Çakır
Assistant Referee Bahattin Duran
Assistant Referee Tarik Ongun
Additional Assistant Referee Hüseyin Göçek
Additional Assistant Referee Barış Şimşek
4th Referee Benoît Bastien
Reserve Official Frédéric Cano
Uefa Delegate Sviatlana Hrynkevich
Referee Observer David R. Elleray
Samir Zolota
Frank Paauw
Media Officer Sergey Borisov
Media Officer Aleksandar Bošković
Media Officer Jayne Pearce-mcmenamin

Minute by Minute Commentary

The match is under way.
1" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) handles the ball.
2" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
2" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
9" Thomas Meunier (Belgium) is flagged for offside.
10" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
13" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) takes the corner.
13" Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) misses the target.
13" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Axel Witsel (Belgium).
13" Axel Witsel (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
16" Seamus Coleman (Republic of Ireland) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Eden Hazard (Belgium).
17" Thomas Meunier (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
19" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) delivers the corner.
19" Stephen Ward (Republic of Ireland) has an attempt on goal.
19" Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) blocks a shot.
19" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
20" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) delivers the corner.
21" Eden Hazard (Belgium) misses the target.
21" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) fouls.
22" Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
23" Seamus Coleman (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Jan Vertonghen (Belgium).
24" Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
24" Yannick Carrasco (Belgium) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
25" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
26" Mousa Dembélé (Belgium) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland).
27" Glenn Whelan (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
27" Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) is flagged for offside.
28" John O'Shea (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
28" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
28" Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
29" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) has an effort on goal.
29" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
30" Thomas Meunier (Belgium) misses the target.
32" Axel Witsel (Belgium) fouls.
32" Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
32" Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
34" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Axel Witsel (Belgium).
34" Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
36" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) takes the corner.
36" Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) misses the target.
38" Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Mousa Dembélé (Belgium).
38" Axel Witsel (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
39" Axel Witsel (Belgium) has a shot blocked.
39" Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
39" Mousa Dembélé (Belgium) fouls.
40" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
42" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) delivers the corner.
42" Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) has a shot blocked.
42" Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
42" Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on @@player2 (@@team2).
42" Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) is cautioned by the referee.
43" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
43" Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) misses the target.
44" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Jan Vertonghen (Belgium).
44" Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
45" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) takes the corner.
45" Axel Witsel (Belgium) has an attempt on goal.
45" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
45+1" Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) fouls.
The referee blows for half-time.
The second half begins.
47" Mousa Dembélé (Belgium) is penalised for a foul on Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland).
47" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
48" Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) scores!
49" Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Shane Long (Republic of Ireland).
49" Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium) is shown a yellow card.
50" Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
52" Glenn Whelan (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
52" Mousa Dembélé (Belgium) blocks a shot.
53" Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) delivers the corner.
53" Yannick Carrasco (Belgium) fouls.
53" Stephen Ward (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
55" Axel Witsel (Belgium) has an attempt on goal.
55" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
57" Radja Nainggolan (in) - Mousa Dembélé (out) (Belgium)
59" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
59" Thomas Meunier (Belgium) blocks a shot.
61" Axel Witsel (Belgium) scores!
62" James McClean (in) - James McCarthy (out) (Republic of Ireland)
63" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
64" Dries Mertens (in) - Yannick Carrasco (out) (Belgium)
65" Dries Mertens (Belgium) has a shot blocked.
65" John O'Shea (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
65" Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) is penalised for a foul on Eden Hazard (Belgium).
66" Axel Witsel (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
68" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) misses the target.
70" Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) scores!
71" Aiden McGeady (in) - Wes Hoolahan (out) (Republic of Ireland)
76" Dries Mertens (Belgium) misses the target.
79" Robbie Keane (in) - Shane Long (out) (Republic of Ireland)
79" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) takes the corner.
79" James McClean (Republic of Ireland) has an attempt on goal.
79" Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) blocks a shot.
80" Dries Mertens (Belgium) misses the target.
82" Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
82" @@player1 (Belgium) blocks a shot.
83" Christian Benteke (in) - Romelu Lukaku (out) (Belgium)
83" Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) has an effort on goal.
83" Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) blocks a shot.
84" Radja Nainggolan (Belgium) gives away a free-kick for a challenge on Robbie Keane (Republic of Ireland).
85" James McClean (Republic of Ireland) takes the free-kick.
85" James McClean (Republic of Ireland) delivers the free-kick wide.
90" Stephen Ward (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
90+1" Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland) has a shot blocked.
90+1" @@player1 (Belgium) blocks a shot.
90+2" Seamus Coleman (Republic of Ireland) fouls.
90+2" Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
90+2" Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) takes the free-kick.
90+3" Aiden McGeady (Republic of Ireland) misses the target.
The final whistle is blown.