LIVE – Belgium-Slovakia: the “Red Devils” in search of redemption

A year and a half after a completely failed World Cup and the end of its “golden generation”, Belgium returns to the pitch of a major competition this Monday. Placed in Group E, the “Red Devils” face Slovakia (6 p.m.) to try to take the lead in a group within their reach (with Romania and Ukraine). Dominico Tedesco’s men arrive in Germany without the status of favorite, a first for a long time.

“Our status? We don’t care”

It must be said that on the Belgian side, everything has changed. Exit the promising generation never titled, led by Eden Hazard, makes way for youth surrounded by the indestructible Kevin De Bruyne, and his scorer Romelu Lukaku. “Our status, I don’t care”has already warned defender Timothy Castagne. “Whether you are favorite or not, it doesn’t change anything […] The most important thing is that we, in the group, believe in it.”

The Belgians can have hopes, as, in the shadows, they remain on a good run. Since the arrival of Dominico Tedesco, in 2023, Belgium has quite simply… never lost! Under the Italian’s leadership, the “Red Devils” won ten matches (four draws) and showed impressive offensive potential, finding the net three or more times in half of their matches.

• Read also

  Euro 2024: without its golden generation, Belgium at a turning point in its history

But Slovakia, which is participating in its third Euro, is not starting out beaten in advance. “Our goalkeeper (Martin) Dubravka told me that if I don’t score twice against the Belgians, he will slap me”joked to the press Lukas Haraslin, the left winger of Sparta Prague. “But I know what he means: we have to play with confidence, even if we are not favorites. We all believe in it.”

Follow the match between Belgium and Slovakia with live commentary on TF1info.