Slovakia didn’t score against a friendly Luxembourg and only drew

Slovakia failed to make it through the opening match of the 2024 European Championship qualification in Germany, playing goalless at home to Luxembourg. The reason for this is mainly the wasted first half, after the change of sides the favourite did not take advantage of the pressure.

Luxembourg were more active from the start, outplaying the Slovaks with their movement and threatening for the first time in the 14th minute. Danel Sinani’s direct kick had to be saved by the goalkeeper. On the other side, Robert Polievka tried his luck and just missed.

Then Tomas Suslov shot from the edge of the box, but the defence knocked the ball away for a corner kick. The match was entertaining, in the 26th minute Polievka finished a rehearsed signal after a corner kick, but his header did not surprise the visitors’ goalkeeper.

On the other side, the active Gerson Fernandes shot towards the near post, but Dúbravka was able to intervene. The second part of the opening half was less action-packed and the game was scoreless.

After the change of sides, Ondrej Duda tested the Luxembourg goalkeeper from a direct kick, but Anthony Moris was down in time. And Union Saint Gilloise’s goalkeeper also shone in the 59th minute when he grabbed Polievka’s goal.

The Slovaks were more active, pressing, and in the 71st minute, the visiting Vincent Thill scored from a rare opportunity, but did not get a shot between the three posts. Robert Boženík almost saved the Slovaks, but the White defence knocked the ball away for a corner.

At the end of the match, Luxembourg managed to win the match with surprising calmness and took a valuable point for a 0:0 draw.

Sunday’s clash with Portugal will be a reward for the players, while the Slovaks will welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina on the same day.

Source: Sport 1