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RotoBaller's Euro 2024 coverage continues with a Group E preview of Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine. Odds, Predictions, and Players to Watch.
Happy Euro 2024, RotoBallers! The tournament is just a couple of weeks away, and soccer fans are ready to witness the top nations in Europe battle it out for a spot in the finals at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. Elite football stars from around the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and many more, will represent their nations when the contest starts on June 14, 2024.
After a three-year break, Euro 2024 coverage is back on Rotoballer. Our dedicated team is ready to bring you comprehensive coverage, from Group Previews to the fantasy game and the day-to-day action of DFS during the tournament.
Take advantage of our extensive Euro 2024 coverage. This is just one of our six group previews. You can access the other five previews and the rest of our Euro 2024 coverage here on Rotoballer.
Overview: Group E
If Belgium doesn't waltz out of Group E, it'll be a massive surprise for Euro 2024. Who finishes second is the biggest question among the remaining three squads. Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine will fancy their chances of getting the last 16. In fact, if results shake out the right way, three teams could come out of this group despite it being viewed as one of the weakest in the tournament. Romania and Ukraine are favorites to advance over Slovakia, so their Matchday 1 meeting could be crucial to figuring out the Group E jigsaw puzzle.
Schedule
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Date | Time (EDT) |
| Romania | Ukraine | Jun. 17 | 9:00 a.m. |
| Belgium | Slovakia | Jun. 17 | Noon |
| Slovakia | Ukraine | Jun. 21 | 9:00 a.m. |
| Belgium | Romania | Jun. 22 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Slovakia | Romania | Jun. 26 | Noon |
| Ukraine | Belgium | Jun. 26 | Noon |
Belgium
Bettings Odds (Bet 365)
Win Group: -244
Advance: -3300
Win Euro 2024: +1600
Player to Watch: Romelu Lukaku - Forward, AS Roma
102 attacking returns (85 goals, 17 assists) in 115 caps is an astounding rate of return for Romelu Lukaku. While he's had some up-and-down form in his domestic league form, the 31-year-old always brings his A game for Belgium. Lukaku had 14 goals and one assist in eight qualifying games and has six goals in 10 games at previous Euro competitions. The AS Roma forward on loan from Chelsea has the fourth-best odds (+1400) of being the tournament's highest scorer, and that feels like one of the best bets at Euro 2024.
Prediction - Win Group; Lose in Quarter-finals
It would be one of the tournament's biggest shocks if Belgium doesn't make it through the group stage. However, it's anyone's guess what happens after that. This is the tail end of a golden generation for The Red Devils, but they've only earned one third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. With England, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy all ascending, the time to strike gold may have passed for Belgium. Still, a spot in the quarter-finals is the minimum expectation, and anything less would be a disappointing end to an ultimately underwhelming few years.
Harry Kane this, Kylian Mbappe that 🙄
No love for Romelu Lukaku? 🤷🏽♂️
The Belgian striker contributed 14 goals and an assist during the Euro Qualifiers for his nation, on penalty duty but still has less than 15% ownership😅
Huge Bargain for his price #EuroFantasy pic.twitter.com/Hw5b2H2vuS
— FPL Manual (Wale) (@TheFPLManual) June 8, 2024
Slovakia
Bettings Odds
Win Group: +1100
Advance: +100
Win Euro 2024: +50000
Player to Watch: Stanislav Lobotka - Midfielder, Napoli
There are only a few headline players among the Slovakia squad, but Stanislav Lobotka will likely be overlooked in most research. The stalwart midfielder guided Napoli to one of the most stunning seasons in recent Serie A history, where they won the league and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The 29-year-old has played 38 games and 3,100-plus minutes in back-to-back seasons and has become a vital cog for Gli Azzurri. Slovakia can make the knockout rounds if he can carry that form and steady presence to his national team.
Prediction - Eliminated in Group Stage
Slovakia's hopes of advancing (like those of Romania and Ukraine) will depend on their performance against the non-Belgian teams in Group E. The Sokoli made light work of their qualifying group, only falling to Portugal twice. However, it was a relatively easy group, and it would've been a disappointment not to advance. If they can upset Ukraine in their second game, they should only need a point versus Romania to advance. Unfortunately, that feels unlikely to happen, and it'll be three and out for Slovakia at Euro 2024.
Romania
Bettings Odds
Win Group: +650
Advance: -160
Win Euro 2024: +20000
Player to Watch: Florinel Coman - Winger, Fotbal Club FCSB
A few injuries have hampered Florinel Coman's ascendancy through the Romanian ranks. Still, the winger is only 26 years old and has a chance to shine on the big stage in Germany. Coman is coming off a season where he led the SuperLiga in goals (18) and propelled Steau Bucharest (Fotbal Club FCSB) to the league title. Tricolorii will need goals to get through this group, as Slovakia and Ukraine will be OK with getting men behind the ball and hitting Romania on the counter. Coman can be the player who helps them accomplish that goal.
Prediction - Eliminated in Group Stage
The oddsmakers seem to like Romania's chances of advancing more than recent form would indicate. Draws against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Liechtenstein isn't the type of scintillating form you'll want to see from a squad that needs to be at the top of their game against Ukraine and Slovakia. The absence of Olimpiu Moruța is a big blow to the talent of the starting XI, and the Euro 2000 quarterfinalists will need someone to step up in his absence. Romania will grab at least a point (or three) against Slovakia or Ukraine, but they may need at least four points to advance to the knockout rounds at Euro 2024.
Ladies and gentlemen the one and only Florinel Coman 📽️⚽ pic.twitter.com/mvPdgugxB8
— Romanian Football (@Romanianfotball) April 14, 2024
Ukraine
Bettings Odds
Win Group: +400
Advance: -270
Win Euro 2024: +10000
Player to Watch: Mykhailo Mudryk - Forward, Chelsea
A huge transfer fee (€70M) in January 2023 placed incredibly high expectations on Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea. Unfortunately, he has not come through for the Stamford Bridge side. Regardless, the 23-year-old has become a regular presence for his country and has the opportunity to create some positive momentum ahead of his second full season with Chelsea. Mudryk bagged two goals and an assist in his previous six games for Ukraine, and he will fancy his chances of adding to those totals against Romania and Slovakia.
Prediction - Advance; Lose in Round of 16
The Blue and Yellow surprised Euro 2020 with a quarter-final run that ended against England. It's a challenging task to replicate that, but getting out of the group stage is more than doable. With several Premier League players in their squad, they will have enough talent to get through challenging ties against Romania and Slovakia. The fact Ukraine plays Belgium in the final Group E game could be to their advantage. The Red Devils could have the group wrapped up and give their opponents a toned-down version of their squad. However, the Round of 16 is as far as they will go, as they are no longer a surprise to the rest of Europe.
Join Our League
Once again, join our Rotoballer.com fantasy league. Hit any of our writers up over the next two weeks, and we will give you the code (also in the graphic below), and you'll be good to go. Good luck for UEFA Euro 2024 Fantasy, RotoBallers!
Stick around for more Euro Fantasy content coming soon. Is there a question you would like to have answered every week? Hit us up on X @RotoBaller. We would love to hear your feedback and ideas!
