Defending champions Italy and past champions Spain face off in the group stages of Euro 2024, while Balkan nations Slovenia and Serbia face off in Munich. We have predictions for every match at Euro 2024.
Slovenia vs Serbia (Thursday in Munich)
Steen Kirby: Serbia was defensively sound but failed to produce any goals against England in the opening group stage match, Slovenia was 1-1 with Denmark until into the second half and eventually fell 2-1 as they couldn’t find an equalizer against the Danes. The Slovenian midfield lacks quality, while Serbia’s attack should really be able to produce more than they did against the English. Both teams will look to play better than they did in the opening match, Serbia’s squad gives me a bit more confidence that they will figure things out and get 3 critical points. Prediction: Serbia 1 Slovenia 0
Ben Gray: Slovenia are back at the Euros for the first time in 24 years, while Serbia are competing for the first time as an independent nation, so it would be a major achievement for either to reach the knockout stages, and victory in Munich for one or the other would be a huge step towards this.
Of the two, Slovenia did get off the mark on Sunday, holding Denmark to a 1-1 draw in Stuttgart, with left-back Erik Janža lashing home a deflected equaliser late on, against the same opposition he’d scored a free-kick when the pair clashed at Parken in qualifying.
Matjaž Kek is hoping to lead his nation into the knockouts at a major tournament for the very first time and, with Slovenia’s third group game against England on Tuesday, they’ll feel victory in Bavaria is of vital importance.
As for Serbia, they commenced their debut Euros against the English on Sunday night, beaten 1-0 at Arena AufSchalke in an instantaneously forgettable encounter, leaving Gelsenkirchen having mustered a measly xG of just 0.17.
Having said that, Dragan Stojković’s side showed enough to suggest they can cause both Slovenia and then Denmark problems, but the Eagles really do need something from this clash to remain in a good position to get into the round of 16.
In the UEFA Nations League two years ago, Serbia hammered Slovenia 4-1 at the Marakana, before the pair played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in Ljubljana a week later, suggesting there should be goals in this clash at Allianz Arena that is tough to call. Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Denmark vs England (Thursday in Frankfurt)
Steen: A workmanlike performance for England, who started as they intended to go on, but failed to actually go on that way was the story of the first group stage match. Jude Bellingham showed his skill, and Jordan Pickford and company in the England defense smothered Serbia, despite at times a disjointed midfield and a silent Harry Kane. We will see what changes, if any, Gareth Southgate makes to the England lineup, while Christian Eriksen and Denmark have been a solid tournament team for some years. Denmark, like Serbia, are not going to concede easily, and they know how to get goals, even if it must come from a set piece. I expect England to do just enough to move to 6 points and allow for some changes to be made in the final group stage match. Prediction: England 2 Denmark 1
Ben: After battling to an important if unspectacular victory on Sunday, can England make it two wins out of two in Frankfurt while, potentially, rubber stamping top spot with a game to spare, depending on the earlier result?
At the weekend, the Three Lions defeated Serbia 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen, with Jude Bellingham’s 11th minute header, connecting with Bukayo Saka’s cross, the only real event of note during a pretty dire night at Arena AufSchalke.
Nevertheless, a win is a win, with this only the second time ever England have tasted victory in their opener at a European Championships, also doing so three summers ago, and that campaign didn’t turn out too badly.
So now, will Gareth Southgate’s team win again, booking England’s place in the round of 16 with a game to go?
Denmark meantime were held to a 1-1 draw by Slovenia on Sunday, as Christian Eriksen broke the deadlock with a true fairytale moment, one that was slightly soured late on by the Slovenian equaliser that took a huge deflection off Morten Hjulmand.
Having reached the semi-finals at Euro 2020, de Rød-Hvide then failed to win any of their three matches in Qatar, with Kasper Hjulmand’s team now slightly concerned they could face another group phase exit; Tuesday’s clash with Serbia could be key.
England did beat Denmark 2-1 in the semi-finals of the most-recent Euros, coming from behind to prevail after extra time, with a similar outcome expected at Waldstadion. Prediction: England 2 Denmark 1
Spain vs Italy (Thursday in Gelsenkirchen)
Steen: Spain showed flair, attacking intent, and youthfulness in their 3-0 defeat of Croatia that put them track to qualify from this “group of death”. Italy was facing minnows Albania and acquitted themselves relatively well, despite conceding in the first seconds, they scored twice in the first half and then settled themselves defensively to secure 3 points against the much lower ranked side. That win against Albania looks a lot better now that they drew with Croatia on Wednesday, Italy with Nicolo Barella and Federico Chiesa are not going to be a side that plays freely or scores a lot, but they score enough given that talent and with Donnarumma in the goal they will keep the other side out of the back of the net more often than not. If Italy can get an early lead, Spain may find it difficult to break down the Italy attack, with that said, the way they played off the ball without possession was impressive, Lamine Yamal linking up with the veteran striker Alvaro Morata, and Fabian Ruiz in the midfield is a dangerous group of attackers. Unai Simon is a bit of a concern in goal with his decision making, and this backline isn’t great, so despite the clash in styles, a draw and both teams on 4 points and advancing looks like the probable outcome here. Prediction: 2-2 Draw
Ben: Thursday’s headline fixture comes from Gelsenkirchen and Group B, as two nations who’ve won five European Championships between them meet once again.
This will actually be the fifth successive Euros at which these two sides have gone head-to-head, with Spain 4-0 winners in the 2012 final in Kyiv, although Italy have since prevailed in Paris in 2016 and at Wembley three summers ago, en route to lifting the Henri Delaunay Trophy.
Ahead of this latest heavyweight encounter, both made a winning start to their respective Euros campaigns on Saturday, with Spain sending out a real statement of intent, smashing Croatia 3-0 at the Olympiastadion, with Álvaro Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Carvajal all on target in the first half in Berlin.
La Roja were UEFA Nations League winners 12 months ago, knocking out Italy en route to that success, with the weekend win suggesting Luis de la Fuente’s team are serious contenders to capture more silverware this summer.
As for Gli Azzurri, they found themselves a goal down after just 22 seconds, the fastest goal in Euros history, against Albania on Saturday night, but quickly rallied to win 2-1 at Westfalenstadion, with Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolò Barella the scorers of quick-fire goals.
Given how competitive this group is likely to be, that was a vitally important win for Luciano Spalletti’s side, but this’ll be a serious step-up in difficulty level for the defending champions, hence why we’re forecasting a Spanish victory at Arena AufSchalke. Prediction: Spain 2 Italy 0
Main Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency Madrid Spain
