An early Ivan Schranz goal was enough for Slovakiato beat Belgium on their UEFA EURO 2024 debut.
Ivan Schranz and Slovakia celebrate
Slovakia beat Belgium in their Group E opener in Frankfurt, with Ivan Schranz’s seventh-minute goal the only one in an entertaining game full of missed chances.
Key moments
3′: Dúbravka denies Lukaku from close range
7′: Schranz puts Slovakia ahead
40′: Haraslín volley saved by Casteels
56′: Lukaku denied by Dúbravka from tight angle
59′: Dúbravka palms away Trossard attempt
62′: Hancko saves Slovakia on the goal-line
Match in brief: Schranz and Lobotka the difference
Slovakia players celebrate Ivan Schranz’s opening goal
Belgium started strongly, with Jérémy Doku immediately showing his skills, his superb solo run ending with Romelu Lukaku having the first chance of the game, only to be denied by Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka.
Schranz was just as well-positioned on the other side of the pitch only minutes later, netting the opener from a rebound following Koen Casteels’ initial save from Juraj Kucka.
Belgium struggled to react, with Stanislav Lobotka controlling the tempo of the game, and Slovakia’s high pressure worked wonders for large spells of the match. Lukáš Haraslín almost doubled his team’s lead with a great volley before the break, but Casteels flew to his left to save it.
The Red Devils then started really putting the pressure on. Dúbravka denied Lukaku first, then was once again decisive from a Leandro Trossard effort. Finally, when Dúbravka was beaten, Dávid Hancko saved his team with a fantastic goal line clearance to seal the three points and a memorable win for Slovakia.
Vivo Player of the Match: Stanislav Lobotka (Belgium/Slovakia)
“Excellent in and out of possession. Got close to Kevin De Bruyne when he was playing as a No.10.”
David D’Hondt, Belgium reporter
Belgium played the second half with desperate intensity and it looked likely they would equalise, but it didn’t happen. Meanwhile, Slovakia’s substitutes were excellent, finishing off the job started in the first half. It just wasn’t meant to be for Belgium.
Rastislav Hribik, Slovakia reporter
A brilliant and perhaps surprising start for Calzona’s team, who found a way to beat a team fancied by some to win the tournament. Schranz’s early goal gave Slovakia something to hold on to but they also had some luck along the way too. With some bravery, though, they pulled off a shock. Slovakia started the last EURO with a win – 2-1 against Poland – but this result is arguably even bigger.
Reaction
Martin Dúbravka stops Romelu Lukaku’s shot
Key stats
Koen Casteels flies to deny Lukas Haraslin
- Belgium have failed to score for the first time after nine EURO matches.
- Lukaku became Belgium’s record EURO appearance-holder with 11 in total.
- This is Belgium’s seventh EURO appearance and third in succession. They reached the quarter-finals at EURO 2016 and EURO 2020.
- Slovakia are the first team to deploy two outfield players aged 37 or more in their starting XI in a EURO final tournament match – Juraj Kucka (37) and Peter Pekarík (37).
- Slovakia had won only one of their previous five EURO matches (D1 L3).
- This was the first meeting between Belgium and Slovakia since a 2-1 home win for the Belgians in a friendly in February 2013.
Line-ups
Belgium: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Debast, Carrasco (Lukébakio 84); Onana, Mangala (Bakayoko 58); Trossard (Tielemans 75), De Bruyne, Doku (Openda 84); Lukaku
Slovakia: Dúbravka; Pekarík, Vavro, Škriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda (Obert 94); Schranz (Duriš 80), Boženík (Strelec 70), Haraslín (Suslov 70)