FRANKFURT: Slovakia caused the first upset at Euro 2024 as Ivan Schranz fired the underdogs to a 1-0 win against Belgium on Monday.
Francesco Calzona’s side are 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA’s world rankings.
But they made a mockery of the supposed quality gap between the teams with a courageous performance in Frankfurt.
“We played against a great opponent. We gave it our heart. We didn’t win it by being better, but by being happier,” said Slovakia defender David Hancko.
“That makes the victory all the more gratifying. It’s amazing that we were able to do that.”
Slovakia coach Calzona, who also served as Napoli’s interim boss in the second half of last season, had admitted he would be “delighted” with a draw.
The Italian got more than he could have dreamed of as Schranz left Belgium reeling after ending his nine-game international goal drought.
Romelu Lukaku missed a host of chances for Belgium and had two possible equalizers disallowed by VAR.
Slovakia’s unexpected victory blew Group E wide open, just hours after Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 in Monday’s other match in that pool.
It was a bitter loss for Belgium, who are already in danger of once again failing to fulfil their potential at a major tournament.
Belgium’s golden generation has lost much of its lustre since they crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stage.
The Red Devils fell at the quarter-finals in the last two editions of the European Championship, making a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup the highwater mark of a talented but underachieving team once hailed as a potential dynasty.
Domenico Tedesco was appointed to replace Roberto Martinez in February 2023 and led Belgium on a 14-match unbeaten run heading into the Euros.
“I knew that eventually we would lose a game. Unfortunately it was today,” said Tedesco.
“The only thing that we didn’t do well was missing chances. We had plenty. It’s part of the game. Of course the players were disappointed,” added the Belgium boss.
Before what was billed as a last hurrah for Belgium’s veteran stars, Kevin De Bruyne had insisted they were ready to do “something good” in Germany.
But instead they reverted to type with a spluttering display that puts them under intense pressure to beat Romania in their second group game on Saturday.
Playing in a Belgian record 11th game at major tournaments, Lukaku should have bagged his 86th goal for his country in the second minute.
Jeremy Doku turned adroitly on the halfway line and accelerated menacingly into the Slovakia penalty area, where his cross was poked toward Lukaku by De Bruyne.
Lukaku looked certain to score but his close-range effort was straight at Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka.
Lukaku threatened again moments later, only to let Doku’s pass run away from him.
Slovakia punished Lukaku’s profligacy in the seventh minute.
Doku’s wayward clearing pass allowed Robert Bozenik to cleverly backheel the ball to Juraj Kucka.
Koen Casteels saved Kucka’s strike but could do nothing about the rebound as Schranz fired home from an acute angle.
Lukaku endured a nightmare evening. He again took a woefully heavy touch to waste a good chance from Yannick Carrasco’s raking pass.
Belgium’s angst increased in the 56th minute when Lukaku was denied by Dubravka’s near-post save.
From the resulting corner, Amadou Onana looped a header over Dubravka and Lukaku slid in to score from a yard out, only for his celebrations to be curtailed as VAR ruled he was offside.
Belgium laid siege to the Slovakia goal but Dubravka saved well from Leandro Trossard and Lukaku volleyed into the side-netting before Johan Bakayoko’s shot was cleared off the line by Hancko.
In a fitting coda to a day to forget for Belgium, Lukaku blasted home in the 86th minute but the goal was disallowed for handball by Lois Openda in the build-up.
Schranz strikes as Slovakia beat Belgium at Euro 2024
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Schranz strikes as Slovakia beat Belgium at Euro 2024
- David Hancko: ‘We didn’t win it by being better, but by being happier’
- Romelu Lukaku missed a host of chances for Belgium and had two possible equalizers disallowed by VAR
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders snap Desert Vipers streak in one-run thriller
- Potent spells from Andre Russell (2/16), Ajay Kumar (2/47) and Jason Holder (1/28) prevented the Vipers from securing the seventh consecutive win at the DP World ILT20 Season 4
- A blistering half-century from Livingstone guided the Knight Riders to 181/5
ABU DHABI: The Desert Vipers finally met their match on Tuesday night as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders handed the table-toppers their first loss of the season, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium. The thrilling one-run victory was set up by Liam Livingstone’s knock of 76 runs before the Knight Riders’ bowling attack held their nerve to defend their total of 181/5.
A crucial opening stand between Fakhar Zaman (44 off 32) and Max Holden (52 off 43) kept the Vipers in the fray for a long time, but potent spells from Andre Russell (2/16), Ajay Kumar (2/47) and Jason Holder (1/28) ensured a narrow victory.
In response to a daunting target, Fakhar Zaman and Max Holden (52 off 43) steered the Vipers through an impactful powerplay of 53/0.
The pair rotated the strike with ease and found timely boundaries even after the fielding restrictions as Max Holden brought up a 40-ball half-century. Holden struck six boundaries on his way there.
The Vipers were at a canter until Andre Russell got the vital breakthrough, removing Holden in the 12th over. With only one boundary since the 11th over, the mounting pressure saw Andre Russell strike again to remove Zaman at 114/2 in 14 overs. Sunil Narine was also instrumental in turning up the pressure, conceding only 23 runs in his four overs.
Hasan Nawaz broke the drought with two consecutive sixes off Ajay Kumar in the 16th over but holed out on the next delivery. Sam Curran (11 off 10) and Shimron Hetmyer (7 off 4) also perished in quick succession to leave the equation at 19 runs needed in 12 balls.
A cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer (16 off 9) almost brought the Vipers home, but his knock came to an end in the final over as Ajay Kumar defended the 12 runs needed.
Batting first, the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders stumbled out of the blocks, slumping to 9/2 inside two overs. Khuzaima Tanveer struck on the opening delivery, claiming Phil Salt as his 11th victim of the season, before Lockie Ferguson trapped Michael Pepper (4 off 3) LBW to leave the Knight Riders reeling. Alex Hales (25 off 18) counterattacked inside the powerplay with two fours and two sixes but fell to Ferguson in the fifth over as the Knight Riders finished the powerplay at 48/3.
Liam Livingstone (76 off 48) and UAE’s Alishan Sharafu (39 off 35) endured a difficult phase, steadying the ship with a 50-run stand in 46 balls. Just as the pair looked to step on the accelerator, Sharafu fell to Sam Curran in search of his fourth six of the night.
The Knight Riders recovered well to pass the 15-over mark at 112/4, and Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford (24* off 14) ensured the side plundered another 69 runs in the final five overs. Livingstone launched Qais Ahmad for two successive sixes to bring up a 36-ball fifty and finished the night with six fours and three sixes to his name.
Rutherford took down Noor Ahmad in a 19-run over before Livingstone became Ferguson’s third scalp of the night in the final over. The partnership of 68 runs in 30 balls propelled the Knight Riders to 181/5.
Player of the match, Liam Livingstone said: “It was very much needed for us tonight. Today was a very important game for us so I am glad we could get the win. Pretty happy with the way I paced the innings, getting 25 off 25 and then pressing on the gas accelerator. Most pleasing thing is being able to get a score and contribute.”
Reflecting on the loss, captain of the Desert Vipers, Lockie Ferguson said: “It is not a great result, obviously, but it was a great game of cricket. The boys will obviously be hurting, but we’ll take the dividends from tonight.”
Brief Scores
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders beat Desert Vipers by one run
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders 181/5 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 76, Alishan Sharafu 39, Sherfane Rutherford 24 not out, Lockie Ferguson 3 for 34)
Desert Vipers 180/6 in 20 overs (Max Holden 52, Fakhar Zaman 44, Hasan Nawaz 23, Andre Russell 2 for 16, Ajay Kumar 2 for 47, Jason Holder 1 for 28)
