European Championship 2024 Group E Preview
The stage is all set for the best footballing nations in Europe to compete against each other this summer at the European Championships in Germany. Belgium, Ukraine, Romania, and Slovakia make up Group E.
Belgium's road to the Euro Championship was smooth, with Lukaku scoring 14 goals during the qualifiers. Things were not so easy for Ukraine, who had to rely on the playoffs to secure thier place in the Euros.
Romania's team, led by head coach Edward Iordanescu, topped Group I ahead of Switzerland, conceding only five goals across ten games. Lastly, Slovakia’s qualifying form was impressive. They were placed in a qualifying group against Portugal but managed to go through as the runner-ups in Group J, finishing five points ahead of third-placed Luxembourg.
Belgium
Belgium’s performance in the 2022 World Cup was disappointing, especially after star player Kevin De Bruyne's critical comments created a divide. However, the new head coach, Domenico Tedesco, has done an incredible job lifting the team's spirit.
Under Tedesco’s leadership, the team has remained unbeaten. Their recent outstanding performances and placement in a winnable group mean they will start believing that something special might be on the cards.
Ukraine
This Ukrainian side has faced a lot of adversity. We all know about the country's well-documented issues, which resulted in all of Ukraine's home fixtures being played on neutral venues. On the pitch, the team faced early defeats under their manager, Serhiy Rebrov, but their commitment and resolve led them to reach the Euros after beating Iceland in the playoffs.
The team’s qualification has lifted the nation's spirits, and they have a significant chance of reaching the knockout stage in Germany. With Belgium being the hot favourite in Group E, Ukraine must compete against Romania and Slovakia to finish as runners-up.
Romania
Romania also failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2022, but they played impressively under the leadership of manager Edward Iordanescu in the 2024 qualifiers. The team finished strong after drawing the first four matches by defeating Israel 2-1 and beating Switzerland to secure the top spot in Group I.
Players like their captain Nicolae Stanciu, Denis Alibec, and Valentin Mihaila played a crucial role in leading the team to the finals.
Slovakia
It was with good reason that Napoli hired Italian coach Francesco Calzona on an interim basis until the end of the season. Under his leadership, the Slovakian team has performed well, securing 22 points in the qualifiers. Despite losing both of their matches against Portugal, Slovakia were still able to qualify for these Euros relatively comfortably.
Calzona’s squad is not likely to strike fear in their opponent's eyes, but players like Milan Skriniar and Stanislav Lobotka can make the games challenging for their opponents. Slovakia will also aim for second place against Ukraine and Romania in Group E and will not go out without a fight.
Biggest Game/Deciding Game
The biggest or deciding game is likely to be between Romania and Ukraine, as the two compete to secure second place in the group. Fans will be looking forward to seeing their national teams succeed in this tie and somehow make it to the knockout stage.
Influential Players
A few influential players will most likely stand out as the group's key players. We could have picked more but decided on three players who would need to perform well if their respective teams were to have a successful European Championships 2024.
- Romelu Lukaku: The start striker of this Belgian team scored 14 goals during the qualifying rounds. He is also their record goalscorer, with over 80 international goals to his name. At club level, he has not performed to his high standards in recent years but is still picking up goals, so more respect should be placed on this man's name.
- Kai Havertz: When the German signed for Arsenal for a hefty sum from rivals Chelsea at the beginning of the year, many were perplexed as to why. By the end of the season, it was clear why Arteta was prepared to go all in on this man. He has a habit of scoring when it matters the most, which should delight the German fans, considering what is about to come.
- Oleksandr Zinchenko: The Arsenal left-back has displayed consistency and resilience throughout recent years and has a knack for offensive contributions despite playing as a left back primarely. He is one of those players fans will keep an eye on and could be influential in any success Ukraine might have in the Euros.
Possible Final Standings
Given the circumstances, Belgium will likely secure the first position in Group E. Under Domenico Tedesco's leadership, the team has remained unbeaten in the qualifiers, and they will also be looking to maintain that form on the main stage.
Ukraine might have the best shot at second place compared to Romania and Slovakia, owing to their performance at the end of the qualifiers and during the playoffs.
The lack of a strong squad and prolific goalkeeper for Romania means they may only be able to finish third in the group. As for Slovakia, the team only has a couple of players at the top level, and because of that, the squad is not likely to make a significant impact.
1. Belgium
2. Ukraine
3. Romania
4. Slovakia
List of other Groups Participating in The European Championship of 2024: