Belgium averaged 2.75 goals per game en route to topping their Euro 2024 qualification group unbeaten ahead of Sweden and Austria, and they seemed to grow more potent in the final third as their campaign progressed.

Indeed, the Belgians notched 14 times in their last four matches in Group F alone and they subsequently netted at least two goals in three of their four summer friendly fixtures before their attentions turned to the Euros in Germany.

Slovakia defended well for the majority of their own qualification campaign, conceding just eight times in ten games, though they did ship three goals against a high-calibre Portuguese outfit in October last year, and a Belgian side operating at a similar level could find similar joy against the Slovakian defence.

Slovakia’s qualifying quest was also littered with goals, with over 2.5 goals being witnessed in five of their ten outings on the route to Germany, whilst this total was matched in two of their four friendlies since the conclusion of qualifying – the two exceptions falling one goal short.

Belgium registered at least twice in each of their three group fixtures at the last Euros in 2021 and they could start another tournament with that same fiery tempo. Slovakia too have shown their prolific nature with 17 goals in qualifying, 1.70 scored per game, and their recent execution of San Marino and Wales in friendlies.

29-year-old Ondrej Duda is a wily operator for Slovakia and when his team are up against it, the midfielder knows how to foul at the right time to break up an opponent’s rhythm.

Duda committed 18 fouls during Slovakia’s qualification campaign – a tally that made him a metric leader for the Falcons in that department.

The Verona regular gave away at least two free kicks in seven of his eight Slovakian appearances in Group J last year, so bettors should expect a similar output from the 72-times capped international on Monday.

With Belgian likely to enjoy the lion’s share of possession in Frankfurt, Duda should have a considerable workload to plough through and a high foul count could be a byproduct of his efforts.

Winger Leandro Trossard enjoyed a stellar Premier League season for his club Arsenal in 2023/24, making the move from peripheral squad member to first-team regular at The Emirates as the campaign progressed.

Trossard’s stock rose in a similar way for Belgium last year and he was involved from the start in three of his country’s last five qualification fixtures between September and November.

In all three of those starts, Trossard managed to get a shot on target for the Belgians and the 29-year-old carried just as much threat for Arsenal in the lead up to the summer, clocking at least one accurate strike in eight of his final 11 Premier League appearances.

Trossard is a form payer for club and country, so don’t be surprised if he is a central figure again on matchday one in Group E.

Belgium look top-heavy ahead of their opening Euro 2024 fixture against Slovakia and they might need to put their foot down in attack to compensate for their injury issues at the back on Monday.

That could be a recipe for goals and Belgium’s first Group E contest could follow the same trend of excitement that we saw across their qualification fixtures, where five of their eight games featured over 2.5 goals.

With Jan Vertonghen, Arthur Theate and Thomas Meunier potentially key absentees, Belgium might be more exposed than usual in defence and any goal from Slovakia would require at least two in response for the Belgians to prevail.

Slovakia bagged eight goals in their final two friendly tests before this summer’s Euro 2024 tournament, proving they can convert chances that fall their way, so expect entertainment in Frankfurt.

A combative presence in midfield, Patrik Hrosovsky was carded a joint-high three times during Slovakia’s qualification journey and the 31-year-old could be on the referee’s radar again on Monday.

Hrosovsky plays his club football in Belgium with Genk, which should make him extra keen to make an impact against the Belgians in Slovakia’s Group E opener.

The versatile midfielder collected five yellow cards for his indiscretions for Genk during the 2023/24 club season and Hrosovsky tackles with enough mustard to turn the match official’s head in Frankfurt.

Interestingly, Hrosovsky picked up three yellow cards in his final four appearances in Slovakia’s qualification group, suggesting he got hotter under the collar when the pressure was on and he could slip into the realm of indiscipline again against Belgium.

Despite being only a fleeting presence during Belgium’s sprint to the qualification finish line last year, Kevin De Bruyne will keep the captain’s armband at Euro 2024 and it would be just like the 32-year-old to make a world-class impact against Slovakia.

De Bruyne, who has scored 27 times for his country, was a lightly-raced charge for Man City at club level last term, so fatigue shouldn’t be an issue for the midfielder in Germany this summer.

The iconic assist machine seemed to have been wounded by suggestions that he was on the wane earlier this year, however, and motivated to shut his critics up, De Bruyne hit at least one shot on target in eight of his final 11 runouts for the Cityzens between April and May.

De Bruyne, who registered a shot on target in two out of three group games at the last World Cup, is talented enough to pick up where he left off at Euro 2024 and at least one accurate effort should be well within range.