Serbia vs England Euro 2024 Prediction: Can Serbia upset tournament favourites England? | OneFootball

Euro 2020 runners-up England begin their quest to win a first European Championship at Euro 2024 against Serbia.

Serbia vs England Euro 2024 Prediction: Can Serbia upset tournament favourites England?

Serbia vs England Latest Prediction

England’s coach, Gareth Southgate, must feel relieved after seeing his team drawn into Group C, where they are the highest-ranked team. However, being assigned as pre-tournament favourites means there’s no room for complacency, and the pressure to succeed is even greater. Unfortunately, England’s preparations for the tournament have been bumpy so far – they are currently on a three-game winless streak, with a narrow 1-0 loss to Brazil included in that run. During this period, they have scored only three goals while conceding four times.

On the other hand, Serbia, led by the legendary midfielder Dragan Stojković, has also had its share of struggles, having ended three games without success. Despite being a slight underdog, Serbia still boasts several game-changers, including former Southampton forward Dusan Tadic. However, the quality of England should be too much for Serbia to handle. Although Southgate’s defence has been creaking of late, the ball-winners in midfield, coupled with the dynamic Jude Bellingham supporting a forward line that includes Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and even Cole Palmer, can bring England the victory.

We’ll also have more tips here closer to the time, so check back closer to kick-off for our best tips and predictions.

The showdown between Serbia and England occurs on June 16 at VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen.

Serbia finished second in Group G, behind Hungary by just four points. They lost their games against the group winners but had the best marksman, Aleksandar Mitrović, who scored five goals. Three of those goals came in a 3-1 victory over Lithuania. Serbia also won against their neighbours Montenegro, but they could only manage two draws against the bottom side Bulgaria. Stojković knows England is the team to beat for the top spot, but he is aiming for a top-two finish. Even if they don’t finish in the top two, there is a chance they could still progress to the knockout stages, as the best-placed third-placed teams will also advance. Serbia’s group includes Denmark and Slovenia.

England had a successful run in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C and even got a chance to take revenge on Italy, who had previously defeated them on penalties in the last European Championship final. Despite an unbeaten campaign, England produced two draws against Ukraine and North Macedonia while playing away from home, conceding the first goal in both games. Defensive concerns have been raised, but with a group of experienced players who have proven their abilities in high-pressure situations, England has a good chance of winning their group. It remains to be seen whether they will end the campaign with a 100% record.

Serbia Latest Team News

Serbia has a wealth of experience, boasting at least eight active players with over 40 international caps. Mitrović, known to Premier League supporters, plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia’s top division. Tadić is still a virtuoso at Fenerbahçe after a successful stint with Dutch giants Ajax, while Luka Jović has regained his form after a few difficult years. The current number one goalkeeper is Vanja Milinković-Savić, who faces competition from Đorđe Petrović, especially following standout performances when filling in for Robert Sánchez at Chelsea. Defenders Srđan Babić and Nikola Milenković are also expected to feature. Facing a strong England team, the Serbian defence will need to have the games of their international careers to stand a chance. The once highly regarded Sergej Milinković-Savić must also show his previous form.

England Latest Team News

Seeing how much has changed in just a few months is amazing. At the beginning of the current domestic season, no one would have predicted that Palmer could start in England’s tournament opener. However, things are different now, as the former Manchester City academy player has had an incredible debut season at Chelsea and could even finish as the Premier League’s top scorer. The question for Southgate is no longer whether to take Palmer to Germany but where to place him in England’s lineup. Some people think he will compete with Saka, who has also been impressive, for a right-flank position to support Kane, who is expected to start as the first-choice striker. In other areas of the team, things are more straightforward. Maguire and Stones will continue to play together as central defenders, while Rice and Bellingham will be two-thirds of a midfield triumvirate.

Serbia vs England Head-to-Head

This will be the first meeting between England and an independent Serbian team.

How to watch Serbia vs England Live

The tie will be shown on free-to-air TV on BBC One, as well as online on BBC iPlayer.

Every Euro 2024 game will be shown live on either BBC or ITV, with the two platforms sharing the broadcast rights.