Explainers

BELGIUM kick off their Euro 2024 game with a tough but winnable game against Slovakia.The Red Devils launch their bid for glory in Frankfurt against a Slovakia side managed by former Napoli caretaker boss Francesco Calzona.This is likely to be Kevin De Bruyne’s last EurosCredit: AFPBut the Belgium squad still features several starsCredit: RexSlovakia now play a more attacking brand of footballCredit: GettyIt’s a case of a ‘last dance’ for many of the stars of Belgium’s golden generation with the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku seeing this as their final chance to win something for the Red Devils.Gone are stars such as Eden Hazard, Axel Witsel and Toby Alderweireld but there is a feeling of renewal for the Belgians.Previous boss Roberto Martinez, who guided Belgium to a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a quarter-final at Euro 2020 and a group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup, has gone, and so has his three at the back system.Former RB Leipzig coach, Domenico Tedesco, who plays a high-pressing brand of football, has come in and introduced a 4-3-3 system.The side have not been beaten under his stewardship.Not only has the system changed but the Italian has introduced fresh blood to the ailing golden generation.Johann Bakayoko, 21, Dodi Lukebakio, 26, and Orel Mangala, also 26, have all become important members of the side.Jeremy Doku, who was introduced to the squad by Martinez, is also flourishing into a great player at Manchester City and will be a key man for the Belgians.Most read in Euro 2024Tedesco has been in charge since March 2023 with the side collecting 20 points from 24 in a qualifying group that included Austria and Sweden.EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSBelgium come into the tournament as eighth favourites with the bookies but are ranked fourth in the men’s Fifa rankings.Slovakia are light on stars but could be a decent watch under Calzona, after developing a reputation for disciplined football under previous managers. Inside the ten stunning Euro 2024 stadiums including historic final venueHe is a disciple of Maurizio Sarri, having previously been his assistant at Napoli so expect pretty-passing patterns and possession-based football.PSG’s Milan Skriniar and Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka are the side’s stand-out players.Path to the EurosBelgium arrive at the tournament unbeaten in qualification and without a loss so far under Tedesco.They opened qualifying with a statement 3-0 win over Sweden and also beat Germany 3-2 away in a friendly in his second game in charge.Slovakia’s qualifying form was also impressive, winning seven, drawing two and losing one.Both of those losses came against Portugal, which could be indicative of how this game will go against quality opposition.Team NewsThibaut Courtois, 32, is the most glaring omission from the Belgium squad.Felt by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world, he misses out through a combination of injury and bad blood between him and Tedesco. The keeper tore his ACL in August last year and declared himself out of the Euros then, but returned for Real Madrid as they won LaLiga and the Champions League.Courtois was angered not to have been made captain during Belgium’s home qualifier against Estonia which would have celebrated his 100th Belgian cap – he has not spoken to Tedesco since.Elsewhere they are struggling greatly to field a defence, with Thomas Meunier, Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate all doubts.Slovakia enter the tournament with a clean bill of health.Ones to watchThere can only be one answer for Belgium and that’s Kevin De Bruyne.At 32, this could be his final Euros tournament and he’s coming off the back of a Manchester City season where he missed the first half with injury – meaning he should be fresh for this tournament.He’ll be spoilt for choice when threading balls through to the front line, with Tedesco being able to pick a front-line from Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Johan Bakayoko and Romelu Lukaku.Slovakia’s strongest player is Milan Skriniar, who was a rock for Inter Milan but has struggled at PSG, but there’s nothing very interesting about a star centre-back.Stanislav Lobotka is a lovely central midfielder in the Jorginho mould and will keep things ticking over – he’s the sort of midfielder England could really do with.Hellas Verona winger Tomas Suslov is tricky if a bit too mercurial – his lack of tracking back has angered Calzona in the past but who doesn’t love a maverick?Head-to-HeadBelgium and Slovakia have only met twice in their history with both of those coming in friendlies.The two drew 0-0 in their first meeting in 2006.Belgium got the better of the Slovaks in 2013 with a 1-0 win.SunSport predictionDespite their two previous meetings yielding one goal in 180 minutes of football – Tedesco’ pressing football and wonderful attack should be too much for Slovakia.Prediction: 3-0PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Belgium vs Slovakia?
Belgium’s opening group game against Slovakia will take place on Monday, June 17.
The game will kick off at 5pm BST.
Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany will host the clash.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
Belgium vs Slovakia will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV 1 HD in the UK.
You can live stream all the action from the ITV X app, which is available for download on to your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
Yes, the game is available to watch for FREE on ITV 1, so long as you have a valid TV licence.
READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Belgium – 1/2
Draw – 7/2
Slovakia – 11/2
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication. More

ROMANIA kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against fellow tournament underdogs Ukraine on Monday.The two sides are set to meet at the Allianz Arena in Munich.Romania were undefeated in qualifyingCredit: EPAUkraine booked a spot in the group stages through the qualification play-offsCredit: GettyRomania failed to qualify for the European Championships four years ago, but they managed to book a spot this time around by topping Group I.Edward Iordanescu’s side came through the group unbeaten, easing past Switzerland, Israel, Belarus, Kosovo and Andorra.Meanwhile, Ukraine earned a place through the play-offs earlier this year.Serhiy Rebrov’s side beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 in the semi-finals before earning a 2-1 win over Iceland in the final.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Both teams go into Group E with Slovakia and Belgium.And both will fancy their chances of a spot in the knockouts.Path to the EurosRomania managed an invincible record in qualifying with six wins and four draws in 10 games.They won Group I with a five-point advantage over Switzerland.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSUkraine finished third in Group C, behind England and Italy.However, they beat Bosnia and Iceland in the play-offs to secure a spot.Jack Wilshere, Jurgen Klinsmann and Gordon Strachan pick their ultimate Euro 2024 Dream TeamTeam NewsBoth teams are expected to have a full squad available for the match, with no injury concerns in either 26-man squad.Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin is set to star for Romania, with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk in line to start for Ukraine.Radu Dragusin is set to star for RomaniaCredit: GettyOnes to watchRadu Dragusin is arguably the biggest name in the Romania squad.The defender joined Tottenham in a £21.5million transfer from Genoa in January and has since made nine appearances.Despite being just 22-years-old, Dragusin has already earned 17 senior international caps.As for Ukraine, Mykhailo Mudryk is the man to watch.He scored the winning goal in the play-off final to send Ukraine through to Euro 2024 and is capable of great speed and great frustration.The 23-year-old has made 21 appearances for the Ukraine senior squad and scored twice.Head-to-HeadThese two sides have faced each other six times.They remain completely equal, with three wins each.SunSport predictionRomania have caused a few upsets over the last year, but Ukraine arguably have a bit more quality throughout the squad and could narrowly take the win.Prediction: Romania 0-1 UkrainePLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Romania vs Ukraine?
Romania’s opening group stage game against Ukraine takes place on Monday, June 17.
The game kicks off at 2pm BST.
Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany will host the game.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
Romania vs Ukraine will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
You can live stream all the action from the BBC iPlayer app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
Yes! Romania vs Ukraine will be shown live for FREE on BBC One, so long as you have a valid TV licence.
READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Romania – 27/10
Draw – 12/5
Ukraine – 21/20
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication. More

SLOVENIA kick off their Euro 2024 campaign with a tough match against Denmark on Sunday.The two sides are set to meet at MHPArena in Stuttgart to begin proceedings in Group C.Slovenia have never made it past the group stagesCredit: GettyDenmark are tipped to be dark horsesCredit: EPASlovenia will be looking to get past the group stages for the first time ever, but they face a difficult task against the likes of Denmark, England and Serbia.Meanwhile, Denmark have been tipped by many to be the dark horse of the tournament.The Red and Whites made it to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 but lost 2-1 to England at Wembley.Many fans fell in love with Kasper Hjulmand’s side after they produced one of the tournament’s most incredible tales, overcoming Cristian Eriksen’s devastating cardiac arrest to reach the final four.READ MORE ON EURO 2024They have now been tipped to go the distance in Germany, with the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Andreas Christensen set to play key roles.However, it will not be an easy task.Path to the EurosDenmark booked a place in the tournament after topping Group H in qualifying.The Red and Whites took 22 points from 10 games along the way.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSSlovenia secured the second automatic promotion spot in Group H after finishing with the same amount of points.Both teams managed seven wins, a draw and two defeats from 10 games.Jack Wilshere, Jurgen Klinsmann and Gordon Strachan pick their ultimate Euro 2024 Dream TeamTeam NewsJosip Ilicic has returned to the Slovenia squad for the first time in two-and-a-half years.The striker, who has 81 caps for the national side, hadn’t received a call-up since November 2021 due to mental health issues.As for Denmark, Andreas Christensen and Alexander Bah have both overcome injury setbacks to be ready for the opening match.Andreas Christensen is expected to startCredit: AFPOnes to watchBenjamin Sesko has enjoyed an impressive debut season with RB Leipzig since joining from RB Salzburg last summer, scoring 18 goals in 42 appearances.His form has even attracted interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.Rasmus Hojlund scored seven goals in Denmark’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.The striker has also impressed for Manchester United since joining from Atalanta last summer.Hojlund can cause problems for defenders with his tireless work ethic and clinical finishing.Head-to-HeadThese two sides have met six times in the past, with Slovenia yet to beat the Red and Whites.Denmark have won on five occasions, with one fixture ending in a draw.SunSport predictionSlovenia are yet to beat Denmark, but given the outcome of the qualifying group this could be a very close game.Denmark arguably have a slightly stronger overall squad than their opponents, which could give them an edge.Prediction: Slovenia 1-2 DenmarkPLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Slovenia vs Denmark?
Slovenia’s clash with Denmark takes place on Saturday, June 16.
The game will kick off at 5pm BST.
The Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart will play host to the Group C clash.
What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
Denmark’s Group C clash against Slovenia will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV 1 HD in the UK.
You can live stream the action from the ITV X app, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
Yes! The game is available to watch for FREE on ITV 1 or on the streaming app, so long as you have a valid TV licence.
READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Slovenia – 4/1
Draw – 27/10
Denmark – 8/11
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication. More

POLAND kick off their Euro 2024 campaign with a challenging fixture against Holland on Sunday.The two sides are set to meet at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.Poland qualified for Euro 2024 through the play-offsCredit: APHolland booked their spot at the Euros after finishing second in their qualifying groupCredit: AFPPoland became the final team to qualify for this summer’s tournament after beating Wales in the play-offs.Meanwhile, Holland booked their spot back in November with a 1-0 win over Ireland.Both teams have been drawn in Group D, arguably one of the most difficult groups in the competition.They will also have to face two-time champions France and Ralf Rangnick’s Austria in a bid to qualify for the knockouts.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Managers Michal Probierz and Ronald Koeman will both be eager to kick off Euro 2024 with a win, with every point sure to be crucial in the group.However, Probierz has been handed a major setback with captain and top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski set to miss the team’s opening match.Path to the EurosHaving finished third in Group E qualifying behind Albania and Czech Republic, Poland had to book a spot through the play-offs.The Eagles defeated Estonia 5-1 in the semi-finals before beating Wales 5-4 on penalties in the final following a 0-0 draw.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMeanwhile, Holland finished second in Group B with 18 points from eight games to book an automatic qualification spot.Oranje beat Greece, Ireland and Gibraltar along the way and only struggled against France.Jack Wilshere, Jurgen Klinsmann and Gordon Strachan pick their ultimate Euro 2024 Dream TeamTeam NewsCaptain Lewandowski will not feature for Poland against Holland due to a thigh injury.The 35-year-old suffered the issue during a warm-up match against Turkey on Monday and was forced off after just 33 minutes.Robert Lewandowski has been ruled out of the matchCredit: GettyFrenkie de Jong will not feature at Euro 2024 due to injuryCredit: EPAAn official statement from the national team read: “Lewandowski suffered a rupture of the biceps femoris muscle, which will exclude him from the first match of the tournament.”Defender Pawel Dawidowicz and striker Karol Swiderski are also doubts for Sunday’s match due to injury.Meanwhile, Frenkie De Jong has been ruled out of the tournament for Holland due to an ankle issue.Midfielder Teun Koopmeiners will also be absent after suffering a groin injury just minutes before the team’s final warm-up match against Iceland on Monday.Ones to watchWith Lewandowski out injured, Sebastian Szymanski could be expected to create a spark from midfield.The 25-year-old scored 13 goals and provided 19 assists in 55 appearances for Fenerbahce this season and reportedly attracted interest from both Manchester United and Tottenham.As for Holland, Xavi Simons could be a standout star this summer.The 21-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign at RB Leipzig on loan from Paris Saint-Germain this season, scoring 10 goals and providing 15 assists in 43 appearances.If he keeps up the good form, Simons could be in with a shout for Young Player of the Tournament.Head-to-HeadThese two sides have met 19 times in the past, with seven of those occasions ending in a draw.Poland have won just three times, with Holland taking nine wins.SunSport predictionLewandowski’s injury will be a huge blow to Poland and his absence could dramatically reduce the team’s goalscoring threat.The Eagles will also be coming up against a very strong defence armed with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Micky van de Ven and Matthijs de Ligt.Holland’s attack is also strong, so for that reason the Dutch could be in a good position to see out the game with a win.Prediction: Poland 0-2 HollandPLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Poland vs Holland?
Holland’s opening game against Poland will take place on Sunday, June 16.
The game will kick off at 2pm BST.
The Volksparkstadion in Hamburg will play host to the big game.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
Poland vs Holland will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
You can live stream the action from the BBC iPlayer, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
Yes, the game is available for FREE on BBC One, so long as you have a TV licence.
READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Poland – 4/1
Draw – 3/1
Holland – 4/6
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication. More