Four national teams from smaller countries hit the field with big dreams as they continue their bids to advance to the next stages of the competition and maybe even claim the championship. Duels are also expected to be particularly fierce in Group C and Group D.
Ukraine powers into Group E Match Day 2 as the heartwarming story of the 2024 competition, having managed to qualify despite being unable to compete on home turf due to their country’s war-torn circumstances. Slovakia will battle it out with Ukraine, hoping for a second-place spot, as Belgium is widely expected to run off with the top spot in Group E.
Belgium remains the team to beat in this next round of matches, but Romania won’t go down without a fight. Many believe Romania is rising again as they head into Euro 2024, led by manager Edward Iordanescu. Iordanescu has turned the team around after three straight failures to qualify for the World Cup or UEFA Euro.
Which teams will score, and which will fall? Who will emerge victorious from Euro 2024 Group E Match Day 2? Pay attention because our in-depth coverage will be all you need to know!
The four teams lining up for Euro 2024 Group E Match Day 2 each start the game with unique strengths and weaknesses that will be the key to their success or failure on the field.
Belgium is expected to take first place in Group E handily, but will they win this match? Romania last qualified for the Euros in 2016 and was knocked out in the group stages. Belgium last competed in 2020, barely making it past the group stages to the Round of 16.
Ukraine made it to the quarter-finals in Euro 2020, their third time qualifying for the competition. Each time, they have improved upon the last, so there can be little doubt they will be bringing their A-game, hoping to top their last time out, when they lost to England.
Slovakia won the UEFA Euro in 1976 when it represented Czechoslovakia. All told, Slovakia has appeared in the competition six times, first as Czechoslovakia in 1960 and for the first time as Slovakia in 2016, when it made it to the Group of 16. Their solid record suggests success in the group stages.
Stay with us for an insider look at the team’s strengths and weaknesses heading into match day two and what it could all mean for their victory or defeat.
Ukraine and Slovakia could walk away with the second spot in Euro Group E, and both teams will have their game faces on for the competition, aware of the turning point this match could be.
Slovakia will be guided by Francesco Calzona, who recently led Napoli to the national championship. He takes a quick break to lead the Slovakia national team to a hopeful victory. Calzona almost religiously demands a 4-3-3 formation.
Ukraine can count on multiple strong players to bring their ‘A’ game under the watchful eye of Captain Andriy Yarmolenko. Head Coach Serhiy Rebrov has relied on a 4-3-2-1 formation that has not let him down. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!
Belgium will start the clock with unmatched attacking prowess executed by world-class players. They will have to face Romania’s solid defensive lineup, who will seize any opportunity to capitalize on counterattacks.
Led by Dominico Tedesco, victory is far from certain, but based on their unbeaten qualifying run, Belgium may have a real shot at going all the way this time. Tedesco generally employs five different formations, most commonly 4-3-2-1. This has resulted in a 58% possession rate and 86% passing accuracy per game in qualifying.
This will be Romania’s sixth appearance in the Euros since 1984. They have only made it out of the group stages once, in a spectacular run that bested Germany and England and finished right behind Portugal in 2000. The team will not hesitate to bare the teeth of a defensive lineup that has been breached just five times in their last ten games.
Every minute of this match will count for both teams!
With Belgium expected to win Group E, Romania’s status as the underdog in this match cannot be denied. Meanwhile, Slovakia is considered a firm underdog.
Romania is not considered to have a strong squad and is short a bountiful goalscorer, though multiple players scored three goals each during qualifying. If the team fights this fiercely in the match against Belgium and squeezes the best from their most talented players, there could be room for a major upset.
If Slovakia were to upset and win the group somehow, they would face easier opponents going into Group of 16, their best showing ever. If they finish in the top two of the group, they will advance to the knockout stage. They have a lot of riding in this match.
Ukraine has some tough players coming onto the field. Their Golden Boot contender is Artem Dobvyk, who has scored 14 goals this season. No other Ukrainian player executed more assists during qualifying than Mykhailo Mudryk. Don’t count rising star Illya Zabyarni out, either. Also, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a transformative player for Arsenal and an iconic figure for Ukraine. His ability to maintain possession under pressure and deliver precise passes makes him a critical playmaker. Vitaliy Mykolenko, playing as a left-back for Everton, brings strong defensive skills to the Ukrainian side.
They will face Slovakia’s Golden Boot contender, Robert Bozenik, who will likely lead the team’s attack. Two quality players will back him up: midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, who plays for the national champions Napoli, and defender Milan Skriniar, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
Romania will rely on the talents of their primary playmaker, Olimpiu Moratan, top tackler Radu Dragusin, and George Puscas, their penalty specialist. Florin Niță is a seasoned goalkeeper from Romania and Romania’s last defense line, while Nicolae Stanciu will play a key role as a midfielder.
They will be up against Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who scored a record number of goals during qualifying. Lukaku doubles as Belgium’s Golden Boot contender. Free kicks and corners specialist Kevin De Bruyne and rising star Johan Bakayoko will be indispensable for the Belgian side. Jan Vertonghen, a seasoned fullback, will be an important asset for the team’s defense while emerging midfielder Arthur Vermeeren is expected to contribute to the team’s playmaking efforts. At the same time, Leandro Trossard provides versatility to his play style while scoring goals, bringing a significant advantage to the offensive side of Belgium.
The group winner will play the third-place winner of Group A, B, C, or D. Meanwhile, the runner-up will play the runner-up of Group D, and the third place might advance to play the winner of Group B or C.
Both Romania and Slovakia lucked out with the group draw, facing competitors. They have a fighting chance of dominating to take second spot behind likely winner Belgium. The field is wide open for all three teams!
Euro 2024 Group E Match Day 2 matches will be a decisive factor in who goes on and who goes home. Don’t skip a single minute of all the thrilling action!
