Two powerhouses will try to knock each other out, and two solid competitors will fight for a chance to advance further. Euro 2024 Group C Match Day 2 takes the tournament in a new direction, teeming with energy and anticipation!
England, always a formidable challenger to any team seeking the championship, will try to fend off Denmark, who arrive at the match with some tricks up their sleeve.
Slovakia, which hasn’t qualified in twenty-four years and has only competed in the tournament twice, will face Serbia, qualifying for the first time since changing its name in 2006.
Which team will slog out of the trenches, England or Denmark? Which history-making squad will emerge victorious, Serbia or Slovakia? Continue reading to get all the insider access you need to call the games confidently!
England has a clear advantage as they enter the match, Denmark having suffered poor showings during qualifying. However, many considered England’s qualifications somewhat disappointing. Either way, they both find themselves in a group perceived as soft.
England can surely count on their attackers, one of the most promising crops in world soccer. Plus, last time around, they were the challenging champions. However, Head Coach Gareth Southgate’s poor record against strong opposition in crucial games is cause for some worry.
Many believe England has a strong chance of taking the trophy this time, but Denmark’s hopes aren’t as high. There is a solid possibility of placing second in the group behind England, which will give Denmark a chance to advance in a match with the winner of Group A, most likely Germany. Still, it could be any team that includes Scotland, Switzerland, and Hungary.
Having used a 4-3-3 formation in seven out of eight qualifying matches, Southgate is expected to deliver more of the same. However, he could revert to a 4-3-2-1, which he is known to do almost as frequently as 4-3-3, gaining an advantage from effortless switching.
Denmark is also expected to fan out in the 4-3-3 formation for most group-stage matches, though Coach Kaspar Hjulmand has been known to switch to five at the back regularly.
It will be a close call. In four of their last five matches, victory has been achieved by just a one-goal margin, and neither team has scored goals in three of their four previous meetings.
Slovenia should not be underestimated and come into their match against Serbia with more momentum. Serbia will have to prove nagging doubts to be in vain.
This is only Slovenia’s second appearance at the UEFA Euros, and they have not made it out of the group stage before. In the somewhat weak Group C, they might have a fighting chance of advancing, and head coach Matjaz Kok will try to lead them there.
Serbia is seen as having one of the weaker qualifying runs, with only 14 points out of a possible 24 and conceding nine goals in eight games. Still, the squad is brimming with strong players, so they should not be taken lightly.
Slovenia has been served well by a 4-4-2 formation in qualifying matches and will most likely stick to it. Serbian Head Coach Dragan Stojkovic’s preferred setup is 3-4-2-1, which maximizes his best players and brings them to the forefront.
Serbia and Slovenia will play with their best feet forward, and this match promises to be rife with suspenseful moments.
Denmark did finish in the final four in 2020, but England was the championship loser, failing to beat Italy in the final game. Denmark is not as heavily tipped to win as England, bestowing underdog status in this match.
If you can believe it, Denmark has a stronger record than England in the history of the Euro tournament, thanks mostly to a 1992 championship win as a last-minute replacement for war-torn Yugoslavia. England has never actually scored the championship trophy, with their best showing being their heartbreaking penalty kick loss to Italy in 2020.
With its poor qualifying record and first-timer status, Serbia easily qualifies as the underdog heading into the match with Slovenia. The team’s rising stars will try to seize the moment, backed by its most talented players.
Their strongest players will be positioned in midfield, with their other most effective players taking positions like left-wing back, center-back, and goal. Slovenia will have to counter this strategy with competent goalkeeping and the disciplined structure they relied on during their journey to qualification.
England’s more than competent line-up is led by Jordan Pickford, John Stones, and Declan Rice. Declan Rice’s strong suit is cornering, with Jordan Pickford guarding the goal and John Stones at the heart of the defense.
Denmark charges forward with Kasper Schmeichel, Christian Eriksen, and Jannik Vestergaard. Christian Eriksen, whose left foot is seen as a magic wand, registered more assists than any other Danish player during qualifying. Kasper Schmeichel is a veteran stopper, while Jannik Vestergaard will cover center-back.
Slovenia’s key players are Jaka Bijol, Tomi Horvat, and Adam Gnezda Cerin. Cerin leads in corners and free kicks as well as being the top tackler and primary playmaker on the team. Bijol started as a defensive midfielder but now plays center-back. Tomi Horvat is a midfielder who debuted for the national team in 2022.
Serbia’s players to watch include Luka Jovic, Dorde Petrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Luka Jovic is a striker who brings a versatile set of skills to the contest. Dorde Petrovic is a goalkeeper who has been lauded for his quick reflexes, penalty saves, and saving goals. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is a midfielder who displays both technical ability and exceptional physicality.
These matches will determine who plays winners and runner-ups from other groups, and even a second or third-place finish means the team lives to compete another day.
Denmark is expected to place second behind hard-to-beat England, the strongest of this weak group. That would most likely pit them against Germany in the Round of 16 unless Serbia ends up with a surprise second-place finish. If Slovenia can clear third place, they will be guaranteed to play against another group winner, likely Portugal or Belgium.
No matter how the wind blows, Group C Match Day 2 will bring excitement to the field!
