Belgium vs Slovakia – Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates as the remains of Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ look to deliver at a major tournament for the first time under new head coach Domenico Tedesco
EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE – Belgium: Domenico Tedesco’s new guard boasts young talent to complement captain Kevin De Bruyne
‘Golden Generation’ has almost certainly been overused – not least on this live blog – when discussion the recent Belgium apex, but where are Tedesco’s side now?
For a more in-depth look at a side by no means treading water, you can find our team guide, below.
EURO 2024 Team Guide – Belgium, looking to go further under new coach
TEAM NEWS: How Slovakia line up
No beautiful graphic here, with the Slovakian FA’s account strangely dormant since early qualifiers.
Newcastle’s Dubravka is a familar face, as is the dazzling Skriniar – and don’t forget to keep an eye on David Hancko, a left back with KNVB Cup winners Feyenoord and – as per Opta – the defender who created the third-highest amount of chances in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Slovakia XI: Martin Dubravka; Peter Pekarik, Denis Vavro, Milan Skriniar, David Hancko; Juraj Kucka, Stanislav Lobotka, Ondrej Duda; Ivan Schranz, Lukas Haraslin, Robert Bozenik
TEAM NEWS: Belgium’s starting XI
Wolfsburg’s Casteels beats Luton’s Kaminski to the No 1 gloves, but Tedesco draws upon a raft of Premier League favourites such as De Bruyne and his Man City team-mate Doku, Everton’s Amadou Onana, Arsenal star Trossard… and still-a-Chelsea-player-despite-his-best-intentions Lukaku.
Vertonghen sits out the match entirely, while up-and-comer Arthur Vermeeren waits on the bench, hoping for a late deployment.
Franceso Calzona: Draw? Yes please!
The Slovakia head coach – who has been sipping from the poisoned chalice at Napoli as their interim manager since February – was fairly realistic vis-a-vis his team’s prospects on Sunday afternoon.
After stating that he would be ‘delighted’ with a draw, Calzona added:
We know we are by no means favourites for the match. I hope the team plays beyond themselves and get the utmost in terms of result. What matters is not losing.Belgium are good in transition and on the counter-attack, but we have our own way of playing. When you press well it can be an advantage, but if you don’t then you leave more space.
How much will Belgium miss Thibaut Courtois?
Few sides can boast having a goalkeeper with the quality of the Champions League winner, even after a season which has seen him largely sidelined due to two dramatic injuries.
But Belgium could struggle knowing what they’re missing out on, after Courtois decided he was not fit enough to link up with the squad in Germany.
That being said – Tedesco and Courtois don’t have the friendliest of relationships, with the latter reportedly ruffled that he was passed over for the captaincy of Lukaku.
In recent weeks, Belgium’s defensive ranks have taken a hit, with talisman Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, and Arthur Theate all struggle with little knocks or injury concerns in the build-up to this afternoon’s clash.
It could prove just the right moment for Slovakia to pounce…
Revealed: Why Thibaut Courtois isn’t playing for Belgium at Euro 2024
EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE – Slovakia: Slovaks will look to finally progress beyond the last 16
Cleaved from the old Czechoslovakia, the Falcons have struggled to put together a run at any European Championship, and after being sorted into the tight-looking Group E, 2024 might not be the year they make history.
But to judge whether that’s an unfair assessment before a ball is kicked in Germany, why not have a leaf through our team guide, below?
EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE – Slovakia: Slovaks aiming to reach latter rounds
Over in Munich…
… things have got quite exciting between Romania and Ukraine.
If you’ve not kept up to date with that opening Group E clash, you can do so below!
Romania 3-0 Ukraine – Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates
A flattering head-to-head?
Belgium and Slovakia have only met three times since 2002, and at first glance, it doesn’t look so bad for the Falcons. They’ve held Belgium to a draw on two occasions, falling to defeat on their last outing in 2013.
But 11 years is a long time, and certainly in the intervening years, the Red Devils have fielded some formidable players.
Atmosphere building in Frankfurt
Over two hours before kick-off, with the Belgian contingent revving themselves up with some strirring Euro-dance.
The black flares are ever-so-slightly rendolent of old car fumes, but perhaps they were concerned Slovakia might bring red ones.
Good afternoon!
Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the filling in this afternoon’s Euro 2024 sandwich, and the second match in Group E – Belgium’s showdown with Slovakia.
A Golden Generation without silverware – now, where have we seen that before? Belgium were unlucky to go without during their star-studded heyday, but Dominic Tedesco will be hoping his transitional side is up to the task in Germany. Under his stewardship, the side breezed through qualifying, thanks to their promising mix of emerging talents and big beasts like Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.
Slovakia, therefore, have a tough task in their first Euros outing this summer. But we’re overdue an upset so far… and Francesco Calzona is backing his side to make life very difficult in Frankfurt.
Kick-off is at 5pm, but before then, we’ll be bringing you all the build-up, team news, and more.
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