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Tag: Slovakia

  • Germany stumble in shocking World Cup qualifier

    Germany stumble in shocking World Cup qualifier

    Slovakia became the first home side ever to defeat Germany in a FIFA World Cup qualifier (WCQ), with a stunning 2-0 victory in Bratislava getting the Falcons’ bid to attend just a second World Cup as an independent nation off to the perfect start.

    Germany boasted an incredible historical record in WCQ matches – particularly when on the road – but that didn’t faze the hosts, who started with purpose and only improved from there.

    Not content to allow Julian Nagelsmann’s side to control things, they were particularly effective down the left, where Leo Sauer was causing havoc and called new Germany number one Oliver Baumann into saves on two occasions. The Feyenoord youngster was also unfortunate to see Jonathan Tah block his shot after he got the better of Antonio Rudiger.

    Florian Wirtz responded by working his way into the area and attempting to roll inside the near post, but Martin Dubravka saved and kick-started a barnstorming end to the half for Slovakia.

    Sauer repeatedly had the beating of debutant Nnamdi Collins, but it was David Hancko who stormed forward, played it out to David Strelec and received it back to finish emphatically inside Baumann’s near post for the opener.

    Slovakia might have lost on the previous three occasions that Hancko had scored for his country, but their momentum continued after the restart and soon yielded a remarkable two-goal cushion. Strelec’s first attempt of the half was saved, but Baumann could do nothing about his left-footed curler which nestled into the top corner just a couple of minutes later.

    Despite making changes in response, the visitors still couldn’t break down what was a spirited Slovakia rearguard, and only long-range efforts promised any sort of comeback as time ran out.

    Slovakia thus make history as just the fourth side to beat Germany in their 105 historical WCQ matches, and the first to take any points off Die Nationalelf in their last 18 such outings on their travels.

    The hopes of Francesco Calzona’s men to qualify for a first World Cup since 2010 increase dramatically as a result, and the remainder of Germany’s campaign might need to be perfect if they are to top Group A as expected.

    Tribalfootball

  • Euro 2024: After dramatic comeback win against Slovakia, England tipped to win tournament

    Euro 2024: After dramatic comeback win against Slovakia, England tipped to win tournament

    Rio Ferdinand, former Manchester United defender has tipped England to win the ongoing Eurom2024 in Germany.

    Ferdinand stated this in reaction to the Three Lions coming from behind to beat Slovakia and progress to the quarter-finals.

    It would be recalled that the Three Lions  were seconds away from exiting the tournament following Ivan Schranz’s goal in the first half.

    But Jude Bellingham equalized with a brilliant overhead kick in injury-time, before Harry Kane completed the turnaround in the first minute of extra-time.

    “There comes a time in a tournament when you actually start believing you’re going to win it and I think this was the moment. I really do,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

    “They’re through to the quarter-finals, on the best side of the draw, it’s written in the stars. It’s written! We’re going to win it.

    “Maybe I’m getting carried away but I don’t care, I don’t give a monkey. I’m getting carried away because I’m an England fan, I’m emotional and I love it.”

  • Euro 2024: England come from behind to defeat Slovakia 2-1

    Euro 2024: England come from behind to defeat Slovakia 2-1

    The Three Lions of England snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Slovakia.

     

    England narrowly escaped with a 2-1 win over Slovakia in their Euro 2024 last-16 clash, thanks to a last-gasp bicycle kick by Jude Bellingham that took the match to extra time, where Harry Kane headed the winner.

     

    Declan Rice hit the post from long range as England desperately sought an equalizer, but it wasn’t until five minutes into added time that Bellingham finally found the net, undeservedly saving the Three Lions with their first shot on target of the game. Kane then headed home in the first minute of extra time.

     

    England will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals after they knocked out defending champions Italy with a 2-0 win on Saturday.

     

    England were abject against a Slovakia team who were aggressive from the start, pressing their opponents relentlessly and taking the lead with an Ivan Schranz strike from a counter-attack in the 25th minute.

  • Euro 2024: Foden departs England camp ahead second round fixture with Slovakia

    Euro 2024: Foden departs England camp ahead second round fixture with Slovakia

    England midfielder, Phil Foden, has departed the England camp to return back home.

    In a statement, the Football Association confirmed that he has returned home because of a “pressing family matter.”.

    The City player is said to be expecting his third child.

    Foden has started all three England’s matches at the tournament so far.

    The 24-year-old is expected to be back in time for their last-16 game on Sunday.

    Gareth Southgate’s men qualified for the knockout stages as Group C winners, although their performances have attracted criticism from fans and pundits alike.

    The Three Lions will face Slovakia in their quest to reach the q-final of the competition.

  • Euro 2024: Romania play 1-1 with Slovakia, overtake Belgium to top group E

    Euro 2024: Romania play 1-1 with Slovakia, overtake Belgium to top group E

    Romania has reached the last 16 of the European championship for the first time in many years after playing out a 1-1 draw in their last Group E game on Wednesday.

    Ondrej Duda scored first for Slovakia in the first 45 minutes but t Romania’s Razvan Marin equalised with a penalty before the interval.

    Romania finished top having scored more goals than second-placed Belgium. the two other teams also finished on four points.

    Slovakia went through in third place thanks to a superior goal difference to fourth-placed Ukraine.

    Romania had only qualified once for the last 16 in their five Euro appearances, but Edward Iordanescu’s tenacious side have ended that long drought.

    They responded to Iordanescu’s pre-match challenge to make “history” with a combative display fuelled by their army of vociferous fans, who turned the stadium into a sea of yellow.

  • Euro 2024: Ukraine come from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1

    Euro 2024: Ukraine come from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1

    Ukraine on Friday night registered their first win of the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament in Germany after coming from behind to defeat Slovakia by 2-1.

    Goals from Mykola Shaparenko and Roman Yaremchuk secured Ukraine’s first win of Euro 2024 against Slovakia

    That winning goal is Roman Yaremchuk’s third at the European Championship, which makes him Ukraine’s all-time leading goalscorer in this competition.

     

    He has also become the only Ukraine player to score in two separate European Championships.

    Meanwhile, after putting up a yeoman’s job, Mykola Sheparenko was awarded UEFA’s Player of the Match award.

    Without the 25-year-old, Ukraine may well have been looking at elimination.

    The result means Ukraine join Slovakia and Romania on three points in Group E.

     

    Surprisingly, Belgium are lagging behind but they are strongly fancied to also chalk up three points in their game against Romania tomorrow.

     

    There is now a very real chance that the four teams will go into the final round of fixtures tied on the same amount of points

     

  • Euro 2024: Ivan Schranz shines as Slovakia shock Belgium 1-0

    Euro 2024: Ivan Schranz shines as Slovakia shock Belgium 1-0

    Slovakia on Monday night shocked Belgium 1-0 at the ongoing Euro 2024 championship.

    Slovakia got an early goal and defended furiously to hold on for a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Group E.

    Ivan Schranz took advantage of a horror defensive error to put Slovakia ahead in the seventh minute and kept Belgium at bay with increasing desperation to secure an unexpected triumph at the Frankfurt Arena.

     

    Belgium’s top scorer Romelu Lukaku twice had the ball in the net but was denied after VAR checks, first for offside in the 56th minute and min from the end when Lois Openda was adjudged to have handled in the build-up before the striker swept the ball into the net.

     

    The result meant Slovakia are currently occupying the second position in Group E behind Romania while Belgium are on third position on the log.

     

    Ukraine who got thrashed 3-0 by Romania are occupying the last on the group after the first round of group E matches.

  • Euro 2020: Sweden send Poland out as Spain earn first win

    Euro 2020: Sweden send Poland out as Spain earn first win

    Sweden substitute Viktor Claesson scored a 93rd-minute winner as a valiant Poland fightback proved in vain and they were eliminated from Euro 2020.

    In a captivating game in St Petersburg, Sweden led 2-0 at the hour mark thanks to two goals from Emil Forsberg.

    But a Robert Lewandowski double put Poland within a goal of the win they needed to advance – only for Claesson to end their hopes.

    Sweden will now prepare for a last-16 tie against Finland or Ukraine at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on 29 June.

    Spain earned their first win at Euro 2020 in style as they thrashed Slovakia to progress as Group E runners-up and set up a last-16 tie with Croatia.

    Luis Enrique’s side head into the knockout stages on the back of their best attacking display of the tournament, proving far too good for a seriously below-par Slovakia.

    Aymeric Laporte, Pablo Sarabia and Ferran Torres all scored after a bizarre own goal from Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka broke the deadlock at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.

    The Slovakia goalkeeper, who earlier saved a penalty from Alvaro Morata, punched the ball into his own net after Sarabia’s effort hit the crossbar and looped into the air.

    Juraj Kucka inadvertently completed the rout for Spain, bundling the ball over his own line from close range.

    Spain’s meeting with Croatia will take place in Copenhagen on Monday, while Slovakia are out.

  • Euro 2020: Forsberg penalty clinches Sweden victory

    Emil Forsberg’s second-half penalty ensured Sweden took a huge step towards qualifying for the last 16 at Euro 2020 with victory against Slovakia in St Petersburg.

    RB Leipzig’s Forsberg slotted in with 13 minutes remaining after substitute Robin Quaison was hauled down by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

    The spot-kick ended a run of 365 minutes without a goal for Sweden at the European Championship, since their opening group game at Euro 2016.

    While Slovakia could have secured their progress to the knockout stages with a win, Sweden now lead Group E with four points – one more than Slovakia who face Spain in their final match.

    In the first meeting between the sides at a major tournament, an uninspiring first half witnessed five attempts at goal, with Sweden captain Sebastian Larsson’s deflected effort from outside the penalty area the only one on target.

    Janne Andersson’s side came to life after the interval, however, as Dubravka produced a superb save to keep out Ludwig Augustinsson’s header before Marcus Danielson headed over from the resulting corner.

    Sweden required just 25 minutes to record more passes than in the entirety of their one-sided opener against Spain, in which they held out for a point despite managing just 15% possession and one shot on target.

    Having impressed in that match, 21-year-old Alexander Isak – La Liga’s young player of the year after scoring 17 goals in 34 games last season – was initially starved of opportunities.

    But he starred as Sweden asserted themselves in the second half, which saw Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar produce an excellent sliding tackle to block Isak’s strike shortly after the restart.

    Real Sociedad striker Isak, who at 17 became his nation’s youngest scorer with a goal against Slovakia in a 2017 friendly, forced Dubravka into action following a delightful driving run.

    That was one of six dribbles he completed in the game – the most by a player at Euro 2020 so far – and fittingly it was Isak who played the ball into Quaison as he won the decisive spot-kick.

  • Dele Alli, banned for one England game following gesture

    Dele Alli, banned for one England game following gesture.

     

    England midfielder, Dele Alli, has been banned for one international match following his middle-finger gesture during the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

     

    The Tottenham player was also fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,852) by Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Fifa, who says the incident on 4 September was “offensive and unsporting”.

     

    The midfielder will miss Thursday’s World Cup qualifier at home to Slovenia.

     

    The 21-year-old, Alli, will be available for the game against Lithuania on Sunday.

     

    Alli said his gesture was aimed at former Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker during the 77th minute of the 2-1 win in Group F.

     

    The incident occurred after Alli was body-checked by Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel, and referee Clement Turpin waved play on.

     

    It initially appeared that Alli gestured towards the official, with whom he also had words when he was substituted in the 93rd minute.

     

    A Fifa statement said: “Although the disciplinary committee was not convinced that the player directed the gesture at the referee, and regardless of whether it was allegedly directed at a team-mate, it did consider such gesture to be offensive and unsporting. Therefore it amounted to a violation of article 57 of the Fifa disciplinary code.”