Euro 2024: Historic win for Slovakia as they beat Belgium in Group E

In a remarkable upset at Euro 2024, Slovakia's national football team secured a 1-0 victory over Belgium, stunning fans and critics alike. This triumph reflects significant progress for Slovakia, often seen as an underdog in European football.

**Match Summary:**
- **Score:** Slovakia 1-0 Belgium
- **Goal-scorer:** Ivan Schranz, who described his decisive goal as "one of the goals of a lifetime."

**Coach Francesco Calzona's Remarks:**
- Calzona, who took over Slovakia's coaching role following his tenure at Napoli, expressed immense pride in his team. 
- He emphasized the growth of smaller footballing nations and Slovakia's ability to compete against more established teams like Belgium.
- Despite acknowledging the resource gap, Calzona praised his team's relentless effort, which was crucial in overcoming Belgium.

**Key Quotes from Calzona:**
- "The lesser teams, if you will... the smaller nations, have made progress."
- "It's not easy because a country like Belgium produces so many footballers."
- "We're a small nation," he said, underscoring the challenges faced by Slovakia.
- "Our players did their best, they put in the effort and we beat a great opponent. I told the boys that we have to have the mentality that we can be equal to the best."
- "It's a huge win, but we have to keep working. We are looking at the next games - we have to score in those games as well to meet our target and advance."

**Looking Ahead:**
- Slovakia is now preparing for crucial upcoming matches against Ukraine and Romania.
- Calzona stressed the importance of maintaining their momentum and focusing on scoring in future games to achieve their advancement goals.

This victory not only marks a historic moment for Slovak football but also sets a promising tone for their future matches in Euro 2024.