Group E of the UEFA EURO 2024 promises compelling matchups as Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine battle for a place in the knockout stages. This group presents a blend of seasoned campaigners and ambitious underdogs, setting the stage for intense competition and unpredictable results. Football fans worldwide are keenly anticipating the dynamics of Group E Euro 2024.
Here’s the full fixture list for Group E:
Group E EURO 2024 Match Schedule
17/06: Romania vs Ukraine (Munich, 15:00 CET)
17/06: Belgium vs Slovakia (Frankfurt, 18:00 CET)
21/06: Slovakia vs Ukraine (Düsseldorf, 15:00 CET)
22/06: Belgium vs Romania (Cologne, 21:00 CET)
26/06: Slovakia vs Romania (Frankfurt, 18:00 CET)
26/06: Ukraine vs Belgium (Stuttgart, 18:00 CET)
Belgium
EURO Pedigree: Belgium boasts a solid EURO history, having participated in 6 previous tournaments, most recently EURO 2020 where they reached the quarter-finals. Their best achievement was finishing as runners-up in 1980. Known as the Red Devils, Belgium is always a team to watch in major international competitions.
Qualifying Journey: Belgium dominated Group F in the qualifiers, securing the top spot with an impressive record of 6 wins and 2 draws in 8 matches. They scored 22 goals and conceded only 4, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive stability under coach Domenico Tedesco. Qualification was confirmed early on Matchday 7, highlighting their strong campaign.
Head-to-Head Preview:
- vs Romania: Belgium holds a favorable record with 5 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses in past encounters. Their last meeting was a friendly in 2011, which Belgium won 2-1.
- vs Slovakia: Historically, Slovakia has a slight edge with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses against Belgium. However, Belgium won their last friendly match in 2013 with a score of 2-1.
- vs Ukraine: Belgium has never faced Ukraine in a competitive or friendly international match, making this an intriguing first-time encounter in Group E Euro 2024.
Slovakia
EURO Pedigree: Slovakia’s EURO history includes 5 appearances when counting Czechoslovakia. As Czechoslovakia, they famously won the EURO in 1976. Since the split, Slovakia’s best performance was reaching the round of 16 at EURO 2016. At EURO 2020, they were eliminated in the group stage.
Qualifying Journey: Slovakia secured their place at EURO 2024 by finishing as runners-up in Group J. They achieved qualification on Matchday 9 after a strong campaign that included 7 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. They scored 17 goals and conceded 8, demonstrating a balanced performance throughout qualifying.
Head-to-Head Preview:
- vs Belgium: Slovakia has a slightly better historical record against Belgium with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses. However, they lost their last friendly match in 2013 (1-2).
- vs Romania: Romania dominates the head-to-head record against Slovakia with 18 wins, 12 draws, and only 10 losses. Their last friendly encounter in 2013 ended in a 1-1 draw.
- vs Ukraine: Ukraine holds a marginal advantage in matches against Slovakia with 3 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses. Slovakia lost their last Nations League match against Ukraine in 2018 (1-4).
Romania
EURO Pedigree: Romania has featured in 5 previous EURO tournaments, with their most recent appearance in EURO 2016. Their best EURO performance was reaching the quarter-finals in 2000, a tournament remembered fondly by Romanian fans. They did not qualify for EURO 2020, making their return to EURO 2024 highly anticipated.
Qualifying Journey: Romania topped Group I in qualifying, remaining undefeated with 6 wins and 4 draws in their 10 matches. They scored 16 goals and conceded just 5, showcasing a robust defense and efficient attack. Their qualification was confirmed on Matchday 9, marking a successful campaign.
Head-to-Head Preview:
- vs Belgium: Belgium has a slight edge in head-to-head records against Romania with 5 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses. Belgium won their last friendly match in 2011 (2-1).
- vs Slovakia: Romania has a significant historical advantage over Slovakia with 18 wins, 12 draws, and 10 losses. Their last friendly match in 2013 ended in a 1-1 draw.
- vs Ukraine: Romania and Ukraine have a balanced head-to-head record, each with 3 wins and no draws in their 6 encounters. Ukraine won their last friendly match in 2016 (4-3).
Ukraine
EURO Pedigree: Ukraine has qualified for the EUROs 3 times prior to 2024, achieving their best result at EURO 2020 by reaching the quarter-finals. They have become a consistent presence in the European Championship in recent years.
Qualifying Journey: Ukraine faced a more challenging path to EURO 2024, finishing third in Group C behind England and Italy. However, they successfully navigated the play-offs, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina and then Iceland to secure their spot. This resilience highlights their determination and fighting spirit.
Head-to-Head Preview:
- vs Belgium: Ukraine has never played against Belgium in an official international match, making their Group E Euro 2024 clash a historic first encounter.
- vs Romania: Ukraine and Romania have an evenly split record with 3 wins each and no draws. Ukraine won their last friendly match in 2016 (4-3).
- vs Slovakia: Ukraine holds a slight advantage against Slovakia with 3 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses. Ukraine won their last Nations League match against Slovakia in 2018 (4-1).
Group E Euro 2024 is set to be a tightly contested group. Belgium enters as the seeded team with high expectations, but Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine are all capable of causing upsets and securing passage to the knockout rounds. Football fans should prepare for exciting and unpredictable matches as these teams vie for EURO glory.
