Belgium vs Slovakia Preview

Belgium host Slovakia in Deutsche Bank Park to kickstart their 2024 Euros campaign, hoping to kickstart a successful summer for Romelu Lukaku and The Red Devils.

Team news

Belgium

Head coach Domenico Todesco has a plethora of options to choose from on the attacking front with no injury concerns

The likes of Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard set to compete for the left-wing position, alongside record goal scorer Lukaku as well as Kevin De Bruyne leading the line in midfield.

Arrived in Germany 📍
Mission: #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/lQeWL11zph

— Jeremy Doku (@JeremyDoku) June 12, 2024

At the back, Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate are both doubts to be fit for the opener, however both did return to full training in recent days. Thomas Meunier is also set to miss out, with Fulham fullback Timothy Castagne expected to take his place.

With Thibault Courtois not included in Todesco’s Euro squad, Al Quasidah man Koen Casteels is expected to take the first choice goalkeeper role for the tournament.

Slovakia

Slovakia enter Monday fully fit, with the exception of Denis Vavro who is doubtful.

Leo Sauer is perhaps the most exciting player to keep an eye out for from The Falcons, the Feyenoord winger made his debut at just 17-years-old this season and could provide a needed spark for Slovakia, as they navigate life after Marek Hamsik’s retirement.

Leo Sauer 🇸🇰 ('05) in the Eredivisie:

233 minutes
2 goals
3 assists pic.twitter.com/StcA3z0pJH

— Raphaël Bejczy (@ScoutEredivisie) March 31, 2024

Head to head

The two sides have never faced each other in a competitive match before, with all three previous meetings being friendlies.

None of the meetings have come during the time Belgium’s current cohort, with two 1-1 draws in 2002 and 2006 before the most recent fixture in 2013 which the Belgians won 2-1.

Prediction

With the talent at their disposal, and a lack thereof in the case of Slovakia, I predict Belgium to cruise to an easy 3-0 win with goals from Lukaku (2) and Doku.

📊| 🇧🇪 Romelu Lukaku has now scored 17 goals in the 11 games he has played under Domenico Tedesco for Belgium.

⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ENF7lAbLaw

— Absolute Belgian Fans 🇧🇪 (@BelgianFans) June 9, 2024

Slovakia are the lowest ranked national team in Belgium’s group (48 in FIFA rankings) and I think this will prove to be a comfortable match for Belgium.