Slovakia held on for a surprising 1-0 win against Belgium on Monday, with Ivan Schranz scoring early after a defensive error, marking a strong start for Slovakia’s Euro 2024 campaign against the world’s third-ranked team.
Despite being ranked 45 places below Belgium by FIFA, Francesco Calzona’s Slovakia delivered a brave performance in Frankfurt. Calzona, who previously served as Napoli’s interim boss, had hoped for a draw but saw his team exceed expectations. Schranz’s goal ended his nine-game international drought, leaving Belgium struggling.
Romelu Lukaku missed several chances for Belgium and had a late equalizer disallowed by VAR. Slovakia’s win has opened up Group E, especially after Romania’s 3-0 victory over Ukraine earlier on Monday.
Belgium’s loss raises concerns about their potential in another major tournament. The team, once seen as a potential dynasty, has struggled since their group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup and quarter-final exits in the last two European Championships.
Dominic Tedesco, appointed in February 2023, led Belgium on a 14-match unbeaten streak heading into the Euros. Despite veteran star Kevin De Bruyne’s optimism, Belgium’s performance puts them under pressure to defeat Romania in their next group game on Saturday.
