It was a dream start to Slovakia’s EURO2024 campaign, picking up three points in a memorable win over Belgium. Ivan Schranz capitalised on a Belgium error at the back just seven minutes into the game, with the single goal in the game proving decisive. Romelu Lukaku found the back of the net on two occasions, both being ruled out.
VAR was the talking point after a controversial decision for a late handball, but it takes nothing away from an astounding victory for Slovakia – which based on rankings is the biggest shock in EURO history. It leaves Slovakia matched on points with Romania, after they thrashed Ukraine earlier today.
As it happened
Belgium started the game positively, causing problems just two minutes in when Lukaku was denied from close range. Despite the early pressure from Domenico Tedesco’s side, Slovakia took an unexpected lead when Jérémy Doku was caught out by Slovakia’s high pressure, with Schranz the beneficiary. Koen Casteels made the initial save from Juraj Kucka’s effort, but Schranz converted from the rebound to stun Belgium. It was a frantic start to the game.
It was an end-to-end half, with the high press from both teams teeing up for a lively affair. Leandro Trossard almost capitalised on Martin Dubravka’s mistake, but his lobbed effort caused no harm in the end. Dubravka’s distribution was deemed problematic on a few occasions, with a few chances falling Belgium’s way after sloppy passes.
Doku was looking the most promising in the Belgium side, with his blistering pace causing problems for David Hancko. The Red Devils looked encouraging going forward but lacked quality in the final third during the first half, while Slovakia remained hungry for a second goal. Lukaku had a few opportunities throughout the first 45 minutes, not being clinical enough in front of goal.
Slovakia nearly doubled their lead, only to be stopped by a fantastic save from Casteels. A beautifully worked move eventually saw the ball fall out to Lukás Haraslín, with his sweetly caught volley leaving the keeper at full stretch to make the save. That was one of the final chances of the half, with Slovakia going into the break with an invaluable lead.
There were no substitutions going into the second period, but a change from Tedesco saw Trossard and Doku switch flanks. Belgium were beginning to find a few pockets of space after the tactical change. The Red Devils thought they’d grabbed an equaliser, but a VAR check saw the goal chalked off after Andre Onana met Trossard’s beauty of a cross, heading it back where it came from to Lukaku for a simple tap-in. Lukaku was unlucky not to add to his impressive international tally and get his side back on level terms, being marginally offside.
It looked as though it would be only a matter of time before Belgium would grab the leveller, with substitute Johan Bakayoko denied. Doku continued to pose a threat, with the keeper pushing out his cross into the danger area. It fell only as far as Bakayoko, with his side footed attempt blocked off the line due to last-ditch defending from Slovakia to keep their lead intact.
Despite the waves of pressure from Belgium, they just weren’t able to break down a defiant Slovakia. There was heartbreak for Lukaku and Belgium yet again, with the centre-forward having his second goal of the game ruled out when Loïs Openda received the ball from a long pass over the top, with VAR determining that it brushed the 24-year-old’s hand as he tried to bring it under control. He pulled it back before Lukaku smashed it home, but it was disappointment in the end yet again.
A late effort in the seven additional minutes from Belgium wasn’t enough, with the Red Devils tasting bitter defeat. It was the biggest shock of the tournament to date, with Slovakia scraping past Belgium to put them in good stead in group E.
The lineups
BEL: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Debast, Carrasco; Mangala, Onana, Doku, De Buryne, Trossard; Lukaku.
SVK: Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Bozeník, Haraslín.
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