All eyes will be on the clash of titans as de La Fuente’s Spain take on defending champions Italy at the Arena Auf Schalke as both the teams eye a place in the UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16. Gareth Southgate’s England will aim for a win over the Danes while resilient Slovenia take on Serbia for first win in the Euro Cup 2024.
Slovenia vs Serbia
Two Group C teams playing catch-up in the race to qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024 face off at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Thursday afternoon as Slovenia take on Serbia. Slovenia began their Euro 2024 Group C campaign with a 1-1 draw against Denmark in Stuttgart last Sunday.
Serbia, on the other hand, were narrowly defeated 1-0 by tournament favourites England last Sunday. Despite the loss, Serbia showcased their potential but will need to translate that into tangible results to stay in the tournament.
Slovenia Predicted XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Blazic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Serbia Predicted XI: V. Milinkovic-Savic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, S. Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Mladenovic; Tadic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic
England vs Denmark
England needs just one more win to book their place in the Euro 2024 knockout stage, with Denmark next up on Thursday evening. The two nations meet for the first time since the semi-finals of Euro 2020 when the Three Lions came from behind to win 2-1 after extra time at Wembley Stadium.
The Danes were held to a draw by Slovenia to open their Group C campaign, heaping the pressure on a side that impressed en route to the semi-finals at the last Euros. Jude Bellingham scored the only goal as Serbia were edged out in Gelsenkirchen, on a night where Gareth Southgate’s men made an impressive start to Euro 2024.
Denmark Predicted XI: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Bah, Hjulmand, Hojbjerg, Kristiansen; Eriksen; Wind, Hojlund
England Predicted XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Spain vs Italy
Meanwhile, two heavyweights of European football, Spain and Italy, step into the ring on Thursday evening as they aim to secure a place in Euro 2024’s knockout phase. Both won their opening Group B fixtures, so one more point should prove enough for the reigning champions and their Nations League nemesis to progress.
When Spain coach Luis de la Fuente sent his side out at Berlin’s Olympiastadion for their Euro 2024 opener, he could scarcely have dreamed they would return at half-time with a three-goal lead over Croatia. Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal all scored before the break to start the campaign with a resounding success.
Italy started the defence of their title in the worst possible fashion before quickly recovering from an early blow in Saturday’s Group B clash against Albania. Sassuolo’s Nedim Bajrami set a new Euros record for the fastest goal ever, netting after just 23 seconds. However, Spalletti’s side soon bounced back: Alessandro Bastoni levelled the scores 10 minutes later before his Inter Milan teammate Nicolo Barella put them ahead.
Spain Predicted XI: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams
Italy Predicted XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Jorginho, Barella; Frattesi, Pellegrini, Chiesa; Scamacca
