Belgium were the victims of the first major shock of Euro 2024 as they lost their opening game to Slovakia.
Ivan Schranz’s seventh-minute goal proved the difference at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion as Belgian superstars Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku all endured an off day and paid a heavy price.
Slovakia’s goal was a chance gifted to them by Manchester City winger Doku, whose flick near the corner flag in his own half put centre-backs Wout Faes and Zeno Debast in all sorts of trouble.
Jan Kucka received the ball and forced Koen Casteels into a save, but his parry fell at the feet of Schranz. The Slavia Prague winger volleyed under Casteels and in.
De Bruyne and Everton’s Amadou Onana were unable to wrestle control in midfield as Slovakia produced a lively and well-organised first-half display.
The second period began in much the same fashion, before Belgium grew into it and so nearly levelled. A short corner caused Francesco Calzona’s Slovakia problems but Onana’s headed assist for Lukaku was offside. No goal.
Slovakia regrouped and threatened once more through Kucka and Ondrej Duda, before riding their luck once more. Lois Openda was threatening off the bench down the left flank and assisted Lukaku, but the Roma man had a second goal disallowed as VAR showed Openda to have handled the ball accidentally in the build-up.
Slovakia held on, consigning Belgium to the worst-possible start but providing the tournament with its first truly shock result. It was manager Domenico Tedesco’s first defeat as Belgium boss since taking the job in February last year.
