Football News Update: Slovakia Stuns Belgium in Euro 2024 Opener

In a remarkable turn of events, Slovakia has pulled off a stunning upset against Belgium in their Group E opener at the Euro 2024 tournament. The match, played in Frankfurt, Germany, saw Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz score the only goal of the game just seven minutes into the match, capitalizing on a defensive error by Belgium’s Jeremy Doku.

Biggest Upset in European Championship History

According to the FIFA World Rankings, this result marks the biggest upset in European Championship history, with Slovakia currently ranked 48th in the world, while Belgium sits at the 3rd position. The defeat is Belgium’s first since the 2022 World Cup, and the first time a side ranked outside the top 45 has beaten them since 2010.

“Belgium were left to rue a series of missed opportunities, with Romelu Lukaku having two efforts ruled out by VAR. The Belgians will now need to secure positive results against Romania on Saturday and Ukraine in their final Group E match to avoid a similar group stage exit to their disappointing performance at the 2022 World Cup.”

A History of Unexpected Results

The European Championship has a long history of producing unexpected results, with Greece’s Euro 2004 triumph and Denmark’s success in Euro 92 standing out as some of the most unlikely tournament winners. Iceland’s victory over England in the Euro 2016 last-16 and Wales’ quarter-final win over Belgium that same year were also major shocks.

This latest upset involving the Belgians adds another chapter to the tournament’s rich tapestry of surprises, leaving fans and pundits alike speculating on what other dramatic moments may unfold as the 2024 edition of the Euros continues to unfold.

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