There may be more glamorous groupings elsewhere but Group E is one of the most open and fascinating to play out this summer.
Belgium are unquestionably the favourites, but they’ve been known to stutter their lines before when the curtain rises and besides, post their ‘golden generation’ this is a team still in the process of being rebuilt.
Slovakia are a well-constructed outfit, barely deserving their outsider status, and the same can be said – to a lesser degree – of Romania, who excelled throughout qualifying.
Lastly, there is Ukraine, who have overcome all manner of setbacks on the pitch to reach Germany, all the while dealing with conflict off it.
Who ultimately tops the group may well be decided on the final matchday. Before then, expect a surprise or two for the simple reason that the two best teams have dodgy defences, while the other unfancied duo are difficult to penetrate.
Belgium
With most of their ‘golden generation’ having departed the international scene this is the least fancied the Red Devils have been for many a year. So why is there such a strong temptation to back them in the football betting?
Maybe it’s because that’s how football tends to work, delighting in being contrary. Belgium went into several major tournaments tipped to succeed, with a star-studded team bolstered by Courtois, Kompany and Vertonghen at the back, with Hazard, De Bruyne and Mertens ahead of them, and Romelu Lukaku scoring for fun up top.
The best they managed was a World Cup semi-final.
Wouldn’t it be just typical therefore if the new crop coming through surpassed their esteemed predecessors?
And they could. At the back, admittedly inexperience is an issue, with all but three of their entire defensive roster boasting no more than 15 caps apiece. Belgium will concede along the way.
But Everton’s Amadou Onana is the legs in midfield while out wide Jeremy Doku and Johan Bakayoko provide the x-factor.
It’s highly pertinent too that Kevin De Bruyne is still around, running the shows. Now captain and Belgium’s leader-by-example, the magnificent midfielder has assisted every 90 minutes for Manchester City in 2023/24.
Up front, meanwhile, Lukaku continues to prowl. The fearsome forward, who has so often been the beneficiary of De Bruyne’s vision at international level, bagged 20 goals for Roma this term.
Moreover, a remarkable 11 goals in seven throughout qualifying is definitive proof that he remains one of the world’s deadliest finishers.
Yet for all this, the most convincing argument that can be made on Belgium’s behalf concerns psychology because for the first time in a long time they enter a competition not burdened by sky-high expectations.
Star Man
Kevin De Bruyne has disappointed in his last two major tournaments, injuries playing their part, but a series of instrumental displays for City in the second half of the season should strike fear into Belgium’s group opponents.
Who is Belgium’s Manager?
The Red Devils are unbeaten so far under Domenico Tedesco, 12 games and counting, and notably it’s a run that includes some impressive results away from home, in Germany and at Wembley.
The staleness that had infiltrated the Belgian set-up under Martinez has been replaced by high-intensity pressing and renewed belief.
Slovakia
It’s an admirable feat to qualify for a third successive Euros, especially for a nation ranked among the Canadas and Venezuelas of this world. This time out, the Falcons qualified minus their retired creative talisman Marek Hamsik. That adds even more merit to their achievement.
Furthermore, they did so with a game to spare, with home and away dismissals of Iceland and a resounding victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina keeping them in the runner-up spot throughout.
Even their two group losses – both times to group leaders Portugal – were close affairs, Ronaldo and co sweating out single-goal margin wins in Porto and Bratislava.
A well-drilled back-line largely explains such results, PSG’s Milan Skriniar at the heart of it. Behind the imposing centre-back, Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka goes into the tournament on the back of 22 top-flight appearances this season, along with a Champions League outing.
To suggest however that Slovakia are a defensive-minded side, deploying low blocks as per, would be well wide of the mark.
Coach Francesco Calzona advocates an open approach in possession, entrusting his midfield technicians to carve out chances and giving them every opportunity to do so.
Verona’s Ondrej Duda is worth watching in this regard. Charged with being Hamsik’s successor the 29-year-old blew hot and cold in qualifying, but absolutely has the chops to shine on the biggest stage.
The Falcons progressed from their group in 2016, exiting in the last 16. A matching of that feat is not beyond them here.
Star Man
Milan Skriniar has been there, seen it all and got the t-shirt, winning league titles in Italy and France and leaving a few bruises on forward’s calves along the way.
His experience and elite status is crucial to Slovakia who elsewhere are short of the latter.
Who is Slovakia’s Manager?
In August 2022 Slovakia appointed Franceesco Calzona, a widely respected coach who had previously made his name exclusively as an assistant, aiding managers at Empoli, Napoli and Cagliari.
This February, Napoli came calling, offering up the big job with Gli Azzurri struggling to replicate their title success a year before.
Those rare few who concurrently manage club and national sides don’t tend to fare well, due to falling between two stools, but let’s wait and see.
Romania
First, the positives.
Romania sailed through their qualifying group unbeaten, conceding every 180 minutes on route. To finish five points clear of Switzerland is testimony to the outstanding work Edward Iordanescu has done since taking the managerial reins at the start of 2022.
Though not a team that overly troubles opposition defences, in George Puscas they have a forward who knows where the goal is, the Bari star boasting a one in four ratio for his country.
At the back meanwhile, an already solid unit has been strengthened further by the emergence of Radu Dragusin. Formidable and calm, the centre-back is just going to get better and better by testing himself on a weekly basis against the best Premier League strikers for Spurs.
Now, the negatives.
In Nicolae Stanciu, the Tricolorii have a midfielder you would sacrifice a body part for to have on your 5-a-side team but neat short passes from their number ten doesn’t compensate for an overall dearth of creativity in this team.
It is a lack of adventure that cost them dear in the Nations League last year, because on the occasions their defence lets them down Romania have no means to atone.
They were duly relegated to the third tier. It could also be reasoned that this is a lucky side, scoring so many of their goals late-on in qualifying.
Luck has a nasty habit of running out on the biggest stage.
Star Man
Now 31 and casting his spells in the Saudi Pro League, Nicolae Stanciu ticks his side along, dictating the intensity when in possession and a willing runner off the ball.
A fine tournament from their captain is vital if Romania are to pick up any points.
Who is Romania’s Manager?
Iordanescu is quietly making a name for himself on the international scene after traversing the backwaters of Europe at club level.
An astute motivator he will have Romania revved up for their opening clash, and well organised too.
Ukraine
There will be no team more motivated to acquit themselves well this summer than Ukraine, a band of brothers not only representing a nation, but a nation under occupation and at war.
It naturally follows therefore that Ukraine should not be written off, especially after already displaying their unity within the squad and their iron-will to succeed across a qualifying campaign that amounted to a punishing slog.
Finishing level on points with Italy, the Blue and Yellow were deprived of an automatic spot when a nailed-on pen against the Azzurri in their final game was turned down. In the Play-Offs meanwhile they twice overturned a goal deficit to triumph late-on.
This was a collective not to be denied.
But now that Germany has been secured it is hoped that their football takes centre-stage over and above their spirit, because there is plenty of real talent to be admired.
Heorhiy Sudakov is all nice touches and clever movement. Mykhailo Mudryk plays free of a big price-tag for his country and it shows. Oleksandr Zinchenko was superb and positionally-astute in drawing with England back in September.
There are distinct reasons why Ukraine are priced up as second favourites in the Euro odds to reach the knock-outs and they have little to do with patriotic fervour and mines of belief. These are merely significant pluses that have emerged from awful circumstances.
Star Man
Andriy Lunin’s journey to establishing himself as Real Madrid’s number one has been a long one, interspersed by loan spells.
This season though, drafted in due to Thibaul Courtois’ long-term lay-off, the 25-year-old has been terrific, a reliable presence between the sticks.
Ukaine’s defence is not the greatest it must be said, so to have a Champions League finalist behind it is a bonus.
Who is Ukraine’s Manager?
A legend in his own right, Serhiy Rebrov has worked wonders in his first year of international management.
Though the former forward has previously won league titles at club level we can expect better opportunities to come his way, particularly if Ukraine reach the heights they’re capable of.
Key Matches In Group E
Belgium’s opener against Slovakia will tell us a lot about both teams but it’s the Red Devils’ last-day encounter with Ukraine that will have the biggest bearing on how Group E shapes up.
Euro 2024 Group E Fixtures
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17th June, 2pm – Romania v Ukraine
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17th June, 5pm – Belgium v Slovakia
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21st June, 2pm – Slovakia v Ukraine
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22nd June, 8pm – Belgium v Romania
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26th June, 5pm – Slovakia v Romania
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26th June, 5pm – Ukraine v Belgium
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*
