Finland v Belgium, 21 June 2021

Score2-0 to Belgium
RefereeFelix Brych
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Group B
VenueGazprom Arena, Saint Petersburg
Attendance18,545

View Finland v Belgium head to head

Kick-off: 10.00pm local Attendance limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Assistant referees: Mark Borsch (GER) and Stefan Lupp (GER) Fourth official: Davide Massa (ITA) Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz (GER) This was match no. 28 of the pan-Europe Euro 2020 tournament (final group game). Finland had been unbeaten in the seven preceding meetings with Belgium since October 1968 (won four).

0 Finland

Manager: Markku Kanerva

2 Belgium

Manager: Roberto Martínez

Goals:

Goals:

Lukáš Hrádecký own goal 74 OG
Romelu Lukaku 81 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký
Defender Paulus Arajuuri
Defender Dan O'Shaughnessy
Defender Jukka Raitala
Defender Joona Toivio
Defender/Midfielder Jere Uronen
Midfielder Glen Kamara
Midfielder Robin Lod
Midfielder Tim Sparv (captain)
Forward Joel Pohjanpalo
Forward Teemu Pukki

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
Defender Dedryck Boyata
Defender Jason Denayer
Defender Thomas Vermaelen
Midfielder Nacer Chadli
Midfielder Leandro Trossard
Midfielder Axel Witsel
Midfielder/Forward Kevin De Bruyne
Midfielder/Forward Eden Hazard (captain)
Forward Jérémy Doku
Forward Romelu Lukaku

Substitutions:

Rasmus Schüller for Tim Sparv 59
Nikolai Alho for Jere Uronen 70
Joni Kauko for Joel Pohjanpalo 70
Marcus Forss for Robin Lod 90
Fredrik Jensen for Teemu Pukki 90

Substitutions:

Thomas Meunier for Leandro Trossard 75
Michy Batshuayi for Jérémy Doku 76
Christian Benteke for Romelu Lukaku 84
Hans Vanaken for Kevin De Bruyne 90

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Anssi Jaakola
Goalkeeper Jesse Joronen
Defender Robert Ivanov
Defender Leo Väisänen
Defender/Midfielder Nikolai Alho
Defender/Midfielder Rasmus Schüller
Midfielder Fredrik Jensen
Midfielder Joni Kauko
Midfielder Robert Taylor
Midfielder Onni Valakari
Forward Marcus Forss
Forward Pyry Soiri

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet
Goalkeeper Matz Sels
Defender Thomas Meunier
Defender Jan Vertonghen
Defender/Midfielder Leander Dendoncker
Midfielder Yannick Carrasco
Midfielder Dennis Praet
Midfielder Youri Tielemans
Midfielder Hans Vanaken
Forward Michy Batshuayi
Forward Christian Benteke
Forward Dries Mertens

Comments:

As this defeat cost them the runners-up slot in Group B, Finland would now have to depend on results in other groups before knowing the outcome of their possible progress to the knockout stages as one of the best four third-placed teams. Finland had now lost six of their last nine games (won one). They had now scored one goal in their last five games.

Comments:

Belgium had now won all of their three group games at a UEFA European Championship finals for the first time, and progressed to the knockout stages as winners of Group B. The Red Devils had now won 22 of their last 26 games, and remained unbeaten in their last 12 games (won ten). They had now won their final group game at each of their last five major tournaments. Romelu Lukaku scored after 65 minutes but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review due to an offside decision.