Euro 2024 is now just over a week away from starting and excitement is beginning to ramp up for Europe’s flagship international tournament. England will battle it out against three nations in Group C in the hope of securing their spot in the last-16 – but who do the Three Lions face off against in June?
Here, Rezzil takes a deep dive into the sides standing between them and a place in the knockout rounds…
Denmark
Fifa World Ranking: 21
Previous Euros: 9, most recently Euro 2020
Best performance at Euros: Champions (1992)
Euro 2020: Semi-finals
Game against England: June 20th, Frankfurt Arena
Denmark are the highest ranked team England will face in the group stage of Euro 2024. The Danes have a very strong squad featuring some well-known names – including the likes of Christian Eriksen, Joachim Andersen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Mathias Jensen and Rasmus Hojlund among others. They were extremely strong during qualifying, winning Group H with seven wins, one draw and just two defeats from their 10 outings and will likely pose the biggest threat to England in Group C.
Gareth Southgate’s side met Denmark in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and the Scandinavians caused them plenty of issues during an extremely close affair at Wembley. It took a fortuitously rebounded Harry Kane penalty in extra-time for the host nation to prevail with Denmark’s robustness in defence frustrating the Three Lions throughout. That performance was the Danes’ best since they shocked the world by winning the European Championship back in 1992, and they will feel confident in qualifying for the knockout stages once more this year with so many top-flight players within their squad.
Denmark are England’s second game of Euro 2024, with the pair facing off on June 20th. Depending on how well each side fares in their opening fixtures on June 16th, there could be a huge amount riding on this one. Certainly a team to be wary and non-underestimating of, especially if we see the best version of Rasmus Hojlund, who displayed his full quality on several occasions for Manchester United this season and definitely awaits a very bright future.
Slovenia
Fifa World Ranking: 57
Previous Euros: 1, most recently Euro 2000
Best performance at Euros: Group stage (2000)
Euro 2020: Did not qualify
Game against England: June 25th, Cologne Stadium
Slovenia could well be the surprise package in Group C this summer. Whilst they are the lowest ranked team of the four in the group, they enjoyed a very strong qualifying campaign, finishing runners-up in Group H behind the aforementioned Denmark, also amassing 22 points from their outings with seven wins, a draw and two defeats to show for their efforts.
With a more low-key squad featuring far less standout names compared to the likes of England and Denmark, as well as a far from flattering history at the European Championships, it is easy to understand why many would be surprised to see them make it out of Group C this summer.
However, with confidence and momentum behind them after a solid qualifying campaign, as well as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers between the sticks in Atletico Madrid stopper Jan Oblak, and promising goalscorer Benjamin Sesko – who netted 18 goals in all competitions for RB Leipzig this season – leading the line up front, there is every chance that Slovenia can cause some problems in Germany and potentially find themselves in the last-16 and perhaps beyond.
Serbia
Fifa World Ranking: 33
Previous Euros: 5*, most recently Euro 2000
Best performance at Euros: Runners-up (1960, 1968)*
EURO 2020: Did not qualify
Game against England: June 16th, Arena AufSchalke
*as Yugoslavia
After a lengthy 24-year absence, Serbia will return to the Euros fold this summer after securing their place in the finals thanks to a 2-2 draw against Bulgaria in their last qualifier, finishing second behind Hungary in Group G with a far from convincing points-haul of 14 (four wins, two draws and two defeats). Featuring an impressive squad that includes Juventus’s Dušan Vlahović, Fenerbahçe’s Dušan Tadić, AC Milan’s Luka Jović and Al Hilal goal machine Aleksandar Mitrovic, though, Serbia could well be poised to make a significant impact at the tournament.
However, Serbia have frequently disappointed in major tournaments and have so far failed to live up to their potential. As mentioned, the last time they even qualified for the European Championship was in 2000 when they were still a part of Yugoslavia and not an independent nation, and throughout their previous four appearances at the World Cup, they failed to make it out of the group stage (2006, 2010, 2018 and 2022), missing out on the finals completely in 2014.
This will actually be the first time Serbia will feature as an independent nation at the Euros so there will be high hopes for success back home. With players of real quality in their squad, not least in the shape of former Fulham front man Aleksandar Mitrovic – who enjoyed a barnstorming debut campaign in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal by scoring a huge 40 goals in 44 appearances for the Middle Eastern club – Serbia could certainly cause the rest of Group C some problems this summer. Looking back at their recent disappointments at the World Cup, though, their record speaks for itself, and it could turn out to be another very tough campaign for the Serbs in Germany…
Rezzil’s Group C Prediction:
- England
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Serbia
As we gear up for Euro 2024, Rezzil is thrilled to announce a special challenge designed to test your heading ability and to experience the summer tournament like you never have before.
In the coming days, we’ll be unveiling the details of the challenge, including how to participate, what prizes are up for grabs, and when it will be launched.
In the meantime, mark your calendars and get ready for Euro fever. We’re looking forward to an exciting Euros filled with celebrating the best of European football. Stay tuned for more information!
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