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FourFourTwo
Sport
Joe Mewis

Euro 2024: Slovakia unexpectedly make history during shock win over Belgium

Milan Skriniar celebrates wildly following Slovakia's opening goal against Belgium.

Throughout its history, the European Championship has delivered more than its fair share of shocks. 

Greece’s win over hosts Portugal in the final of Euro 2004 gave us the most unlikely winners in the competition’s history, with outsiders Denmark’s Euro 92 triumph over Germany also up there.

Iceland’s Euro 2016 last-16 victory over England was another stunner, as was Wales’ quarter-final win over Belgium that year. 

How Germany Just BROKE Scotland's System

Statistically, we now have the definitive biggest-ever shock in tournament history. And it involves the Belgians again.

The first three days of Euro 2024 saw traditional big-hitters Germany, Italy, Spain, England and the Netherlands all win their first games, leaving fans wondering where the tournament’s first upset would come.

Step forward Slovakia, who stunned Belgium in their Group E opener in Frankfurt, after Ivan Schranz pounced on an error at the back by Jeremy Doku to score the only goal of the game after just seven minutes.

Belgium were guilty of spurning a series of chances, with Romelu Lukaku seeing two efforts ruled out by VAR.

And according to the FIFA World Rankings, this goes down as the biggest upset in competition history, with Slovakia currently ranked 48th in the world, compared to Belgium in third place.

The defeat was Belgium’s first since the 2022 World Cup and is the first time a side ranked outside of the top 45 has beaten them in 2010.

After a disappointing group stage exit in Qatar two years ago, the Belgians will need to get results against Romania on Saturday and Ukraine in their final Group E match in order to ensure they do not suffer a similar fate this time around.

 Get a free live stream to watch Euro 2024 from anywhere in the world ahead of the summer's big tournament

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WATCH: Did Kieran Trippier inject himself on the pitch during England vs Serbia? Social media clip has fans speculating

'Too clever' Eni Aluko slams Manchester City star Jeremy Doku for his part in Slovakia goal against Belgium

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