Bellingham Warns That Slovakia Will Be A Difficult Opponent For England

JAKARTA - As England supporters celebrate the draw against Slovakia as their last opponent in the last 16 of Euro 2024, midfielder Jude Bellingham warned that small countries cannot be underestimated. Even the performance of other small teams in Germany is a good example.

England managed to finish at the top of Group C but stalled in three less convincing group stage matches. Now they will face Slovakia, the third-ranked team, on Sunday 30 June at Gelsenkirchen after a fierce race in Group E where all four teams end up with four points.

"A lot of people saw the draw and saw Slovakia then thought it would be an easy game," Bellingham told Britain's "Lions Den" broadcast on Thursday, June 27.

"However, this is not the case because they will be a different threat and it will be difficult to dismantle," he said. "I think when you play against more attacking countries, the games will be more open.

"I think you will always face a tough game at this point in this tournament," added Bellingham.

Georgia's 2-0 win over Portugal in Group F on Wednesday 26 June a team that is 68 places above them is the best example of a country that transcends expectations in Germany.

Georgia manager Willy Sagnol believes there is less pressure on the underdogs.

"When you're a small team, you know you don't have anything to lose," said the Georgia coach from France. "It's hard when you're French, when you're British, when you're Spanish, when you're Portuguese, because you're under pressure, because people expect you to win."

"The only responsibility we have is to make the Georgian nation proud of their players. And I think we did it in the best way possible," Sagnol said.

Slovakia had shocked Belgium with a score of 1-0 in their opening match.

"Tim-tim kurang efeksi, bisa bisa dikatakan... negara-negara kecil, telah membuat kemajuan," kata manajer Slovakia dan mantan penjual kopi Francesco Calzona. "Kami bisa menyulitkan negara-negara yang lebih bergestif.

"We are the Cinderella story of the group stage," he added.

While England had only 10 attempted on target in the group stage, their defense was considered a weak point before the tournament had become a source of optimism ahead of the knockout stages. They conceded at least the xG (expected goals) in the group stage.

The last time England met Slovakia was in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers when they won 2-1 and 1-0.

Slovakia won seven and drew one and lost two of their ten Euro qualifying games, while unbeaten England won six and drew two in a five-team group.