Slovakia aim to back up Belgium shock at Euro 2024, as Ukraine seek redemption
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Slovakia players celebrate with fans after winning their Euro 2024 opener against Belgium.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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DUSSELDORF – Slovakia pulled off the biggest statistical shock in European Championship history when they stunned Belgium in their opening match at Euro 2024, but know that there is still work to be done if they are to capitalise on their sensational start.
Ivan Schranz’s early goal earned the Slovaks – 48th in the world rankings – a 1-0 victory over the third-ranked Belgians, the biggest rankings gap ever overcome by an underdog, according to sports analytics company Opta.
It also blew Group E wide open ahead of their clash with Ukraine on June 21 in Dusseldorf. The Ukrainians, meanwhile, were taken apart in a 3-0 defeat by Romania and will be desperate to make amends.
The focus, however, will be on Slovakia.
A fifth successive victory in competitive matches for Francesco Calzona’s men would guarantee them a place in the last 16 – equalling their run of 2016.
But midfielder Tomas Suslov, whose father is Ukrainian, warned that they must not get too far ahead of themselves.
“I’ll tell the truth, I was surprised by Ukraine’s result,” he said on June 19.
“Certainly, we know that three points will not be enough for us. Yesterday we already talked about the fact that we cannot underestimate anything, since we have not yet progressed.
“We don’t expect an easier game than in the match against Belgium. If we want to succeed, we will have to do at least the same thing again.”
Coach Calzona was also keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“It will still be very difficult in this group, because Belgium and Ukraine lost to teams they didn’t count on. Accordingly, the ones who lost will try to get back into the fight in the next round.
“And from this point of view, our remaining two matches in the group (against Ukraine and Romania) will be very difficult. Ukraine will be tough opponents – for me, they were one of the group favourites. So we will have to be as prepared as possible.”
Complacency is unlikely from a vastly experienced Slovakia team whose starting line-up against Belgium had an average age of 31 with three players – right-back Peter Pekarik, midfielder Juraj Kucka and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka – over 35.
“It was huge to beat the third (ranked) country in the world,” Dubravka said. “But we are not calculating anything. The next game is vital and we have to prepare for the next opponents.”
While Slovakia will be buoyed by their run of good form, Ukraine’s hopes of reaching the knockout rounds were dealt a cruel blow as they dominated possession against Romania but managed only two shots on target and were picked off.
They have, however, not lost consecutive matches since 2020 and will need to at least keep that run going to ensure they go into their final game against Belgium with hope.
Coach Serhiy Rebrov said before the Romania game that his players were all receiving personal messages from soldiers fighting on the front line against Russia.
And while his young team failed to rise to the challenge in their opening match, Rebrov expects a reaction against Slovakia from the likes of English Premier League stars Mykhailo Mudryk of Chelsea and Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko.
“They know their performance was poor. We represent a great country that has been fighting for its own freedom for two years. They disappointed our fans,” he said.
“We have a very serious game ahead of us. We have to talk among ourselves and we have to get ready for the next game.
“Against Slovakia, we have to show a completely different Ukraine.” REUTERS
