SPOTLIGHTS
- Belgium vs. Slovakia in Euro 2024 Group E match in Frankfurt
- Kevin De Bruyne and the Belgian team are ready and energized
- Slovakia’s manager stresses the importance of not losing
- Belgium’s best Euro achievement was runner-up in 1980
- The match will be broadcast on GOtv and DStv
By Seyi Babalola
Belgium will face Slovakia on Monday in their first Group E match at Euro 2024 in Frankfurt by 5 pm.
The Red Devils were eliminated from Euro 2020 in the quarterfinals by eventual winners Italy and they failed to advance beyond the group stage in the 2022 World Cup.
Manchester City star, Kelvin De Bruyne has said the team is ready and has a lot of energy to do well in the tournament.
“Since my return from injury in January, I think overall it’s been good. I’ve played most of the games and at a good level in my view.
“So I feel good now, hoping to help Belgium do well in this tournament.”
Slovakia knows they face a difficult test against the current world number three, but manager Francesco Calzona stated he would ensure they don’t lose the game.
“We know we are by no means favourites for the match,” Calzona said.
“I hope the team plays beyond themselves and get the utmost in terms of results. What matters is not losing.
“Belgium are good in transition and on the counter-attack, but we have our way of playing. When you press well it can be an advantage, but if you don’t then you leave more space.”
Read also: Euro 2024: Bellingham knocks Trent-Arnold’s critics
Match stats
Belgium and Slovakia have never played in a major competition, however, Belgium are unbeaten in their three friendly matches (W1-D2-L0).
Belgium is making its sixth participation in the European Championship, with its best achievement coming in 1980 as runners-up.
Belgium was ousted in the quarter-finals of its last two Euros outings, by Wales (3-1 in Villeneuve-d’Ascq in 2016) and Italy (2-1 in Munich in 2020).
Domenico Tedesco has led Belgium to a clean record in all 14 games.
Romelu Lukaku has 85 goals in 115 games for Belgium. Cristiano Ronaldo (130) of Portugal is the only Uefa player to have scored as many international goals as Lukaku.
Lukaku, Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, and Kevin de Bruyne may become the first Belgian players to compete in six major competitions (World Cups and Euros combined).
Slovakia is making their third participation at the European Championship, with their greatest achievement being in Euro 2016 when they reached the final 16 on debut (losing 3-0 to Germany).
Juraj Kucka, like Marek Hamsik and Peter Pekarik, has appeared in all seven of Slovakia’s Euro matches. Only Kucka has never missed a single minute.
Leo Sauer (born December 16, 2005) is the third-youngest player in the Euro 2024 squads, after only Spain’s Lamine Yamal (13 July 2007) and France’s Warren Zaire-Emery (8 March 2006).
The match will be broadcast on GOtv and DStv. On GOtv channel 61, and DStv channels 222 and 225, respectively.
