In a remarkable turn of events, Slovakia pulled off the biggest upset of UEFA Euro 2024 to date, defeating Belgium 1-0 in Frankfurt. Ivan Schranz’s early strike secured a historic victory for the Falcons, leaving fans and pundits in awe of their resilience and tenacity.
The Match Highlights
The match kicked off with high-octane action, and Belgium seemed poised to take the lead. Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s talismanic striker, found himself with an early opportunity, only to be denied by Slovakia’s formidable goalkeeper, Martin Dúbravka. However, Slovakia capitalized on a defensive error by Jérémy Doku. Doku’s ill-fated pass across his box allowed Juraj Kucka to strike, and although his shot was saved, Ivan Schranz was there to slot home the rebound, giving Slovakia a surprising early lead.
Belgium, unbeaten in their last 14 games under Domenico Tedesco, appeared unfazed by the setback. They continued to press forward, creating several chances to equalize. Leandro Trossard came closest after a gift of possession from Dúbravka, but his ambitious 25-yard effort sailed over the empty net. Amadou Onana’s header was saved, and Lukaku, despite his best efforts, missed another golden opportunity, shooting wide when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Slovakia’s Lukáš Haraslín forced a fantastic save from Koen Casteels with a beautifully struck volley.
Half Time
The second half saw relentless pressure from Belgium, but they were continually thwarted by Dúbravka’s heroics between the sticks. The Slovakian goalkeeper made crucial saves to deny both Lukaku and Trossard. Lukaku did find the net from close range, but the goal was disallowed for a narrow offside. In the dying moments, Dávid Hancko made a stunning goal-line clearance to keep Johan Bakayoko at bay.
As Belgium threw everything forward in search of an equalizer, Slovakia’s defense stood firm. Their efforts seemed to pay off when Lukaku appeared to score from Loïs Openda’s cross, but the goal was ruled out due to a handball in the build-up, confirmed by VAR. The Falcons clung on to their slender lead, marking their first-ever victory over Belgium and moving into second place in Group E behind Romania, who had earlier triumphed over Ukraine.
Implications for the Tournament
This thrilling encounter not only highlighted Slovakia’s growing prowess but also served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football. For Belgium, it was a rare stumble at the start of a European Championship campaign, setting the stage for an intriguing battle to progress from the group stage.
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