Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Preview, Prediction, h2h, Team Squads, Predicted Lineups, Players to Watch and Match Details

England takes on Serbia in a Group C match of Euro 2024 on Sunday at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, where they will start their quest for their first European Championship. Runners-up in Euro 2020 England takes on Serbia at Euro 2024 in hopes of winning their first European Championship. Though they have advanced to the semifinals twice more and finished second in the most recent European Championship, the Three Lions have never taken home the championship. England will play Serbia on Sunday, who will be making their tournament debut.

England will play their opening match of the 2024 European Championships on June 16 at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia.

Although England is the tournament favorite, Gareth Southgate and his team are under pressure following two poor performances in friendlies before traveling to Germany. It will be essential to get off to a quick start to rebuild fan and player confidence.

They will be up against a Serbian team that isn’t as burdened with expectations and is just trying to get past Group C and leave their mark on the competition. They could have a good chance of qualifying if they win this first game, but they’ll need to play at their very best to keep the Three Lions from raising a fuss.

An additional Serbia vs. England Euro 2024 match is scheduled for the Arena AufSchalke (Veltins-Arena) in Gelsenkirchen. For both teams in Group C—which also includes Denmark and Slovenia—this matchup serves as their first match. It is important for both teams as the opening game of the group stage could determine the direction of their respective campaigns. One of the tournament’s main favorites, England, will want to get off to a fast start, while Serbia wants to make a big impression in their first European Championship as a sovereign state. The Three Lions are the overwhelming favorites going into the match, but Serbia’s potential should not be undervalued, especially considering their strength as a squad and their recent performance. The latest team news and probable results will be factored into the Serbia vs. England prediction.

The fact that England, the top-ranked team, was selected for Group C must relieve England’s coach, Gareth Southgate. Being picked as the pre-tournament favorites, however, means that there is even more pressure to perform well and no room for complacency. Unfortunately, England’s tournament preparations have been rough; they have only won one of their previous five games, embarrassingly falling to world No. 72 Iceland 1-0 at Wembley, and managing just six goals in that span.

Though they did defeat Sweden 3-0 in their final friendly, Serbia, captained by the renowned midfielder Dragan Stojković, have also had their share of difficulties, winning just four of their past 11 games. Serbia has several game-changers, including former Southampton forward Dusan Tadic, even though they are the slight underdogs. But Serbia should be unable to stand up to England’s caliber. The ball-winners in midfield and the dynamic Jude Bellingham can help England win, even though Southgate’s defense has been shaky of late. England’s forward line includes Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and even Cole Palmer.

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Preview

This match is scheduled to take place at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins Arena on June 16, 2024. The game will begin at 2:00 PM GMT.

After 24 years, Serbia is making a comeback to EURO. It’s interesting to note that they have struggled to qualify for the EUROs despite making a few World Cup appearances since then. After Dragan Stojkovic was appointed head coach of Serbia in 2021, it appeared that the Balkan nation had at last found a player capable of taking them to the pinnacle of football. Their remarkable performance in the World Cup qualifiers, where they won first place in their group and even defeated football heavyweights like Portugal, gave them cause for optimism. Serbia, however, turned to the EURO qualifiers following a disappointing World Cup performance; despite being in one of the weakest groups, they still encountered an unexpectedly high number of issues. They eventually placed second on the table and earned a spot at EURO.

Serbia has only won two of the previous six games, so their recent performance was by no means spectacular. In the previous game, Stojkovic’s team defeated Cyprus 1-0 while playing a friendly away from home. Although Serbia anticipated that their encounter with one of the weakest teams from the EURO qualifiers would boost their confidence, they were unable to exert much dominance in that match. In fact, Cyprus had a couple of good opportunities to steal a draw late in the match.

England hasn’t won a major championship since the 1966 World Cup. They were close in the previous EURO, but Italy ultimately prevailed in England’s final. With a commanding six-point advantage over Italy, the second-best team in the group, they finished the EURO qualifiers virtually undefeated under Gareth Southgate. But England lost both of their friendly matches in March (a 1-0 loss to Brazil and a 2-2 draw with Belgium).

England’s opening match at the European Championships is against Serbia in Group C. In their opening match, the Three Lions will aim to make an impression against Serbia after faltering against Iceland.

England hopes to return to the Final after losing to Serbia in the previous round of this competition. They will aim to signal their intentions by defeating an outstanding Serbian team that is not to be taken lightly.

After competing with Yugoslavia Serbia and Montenegro, this will be Serbia’s first European Championship. Serbia competed in the European Championship as one of the strongest teams before the 1980s, placing fourth in 1976 and making appearances in the Finals in 1960 and 1968.

Serbia faced Group G opponents Hungary, Montenegro, Lithuania, and Bulgaria in the qualifying round. With four wins, two draws, and two losses in eight games, Serbia is now three points ahead of Montenegro with 14 points.

Despite ten attempts, England has never prevailed in the European Championship. The Three Lions have made it to the Final once, in 2021, where they were defeated by Italy on penalties. In 1968 and 1996, they finished in third place.

England was placed in Group C for the qualifying round, where they would face teams like Malta, Italy, Ukraine, and North Macedonia. With six victories and two draws in eight games, England finished with 20 points, six points ahead of Italy and first in the group.

There has only ever been one meeting between Serbia and England, which took place in an international friendly in 2003. Both teams scored goals, but England prevailed.

Steven Gerrard gave Serbia and Montenegro the lead in the 35th minute, but Nenad Jestrovic tied the score shortly after the break. But in the 82nd minute, Joe Cole scored a goal to give England a 2-1 victory.

With boisterous target man Aleksandar Mitrovic up top, they will undoubtedly pack a punch, as Premier League fans are all too familiar with.

The Juventus goal scorer Dusan Vlahovic is a very dangerous striker in his own right, and this Serbian team also has some very helpful creators in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Filip Kostic, and Dusan Tadic, so Mitrovic is by no means the only offensive threat on the field.

They enter this game coming off a 3-0 thumping of Sweden, but they don’t tend to keep many clean sheets—they lost 2-1 to Austria a few days prior, and since the beginning of 2023, the only teams they have kept out are Sweden and Cyprus.

How about England? There’s a lot of optimism surrounding the England team, as there usually is at this time of year, but will it remain so after this game?

With Kane, Foden, Bellingham, and Saka, to mention a few, this is a team with plenty of offensive quality, so if they don’t threaten at this tournament, something has seriously gone wrong. This is despite what happened in that rather depressing final warm-up match at Wembley.

But many have questioned the Three Lions squad’s defensive quality, and their concerns were undoubtedly unanswered against Iceland.

Southgate’s team has actually had a mixed bag in 2024; they have only won one of their four games, despite defeating Bosnia, who were eliminated from the tournament, three goals to zero.

The match between Serbia and England takes place at VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen on June 16.

In Group G, Serbia came in second place, trailing Hungary by just four points. Despite having Aleksandar Mitrović, the best marksman in the group with five goals, they lost their games against the winners of the group. The team defeated Lithuania 3-1, scoring three of those goals. Serbia triumphed over their neighbor Montenegro as well, but they were only able to draw twice against the bottom-dwelling Bulgaria. Although Stojković is aware that England is the team to beat for the top spot, he still wants to place in the top two. They have an opportunity to advance to the knockout stages even if they don’t place in the top two because the top three teams advance as well. In Serbia’s group are Slovenia and Denmark.

England had a great run in Group C of the Euro 2024 qualifying tournament, and they even had the opportunity to exact revenge on Italy, who had defeated them in the previous European Championship final on penalties. Even though they had not lost, England’s away games against North Macedonia and Ukraine resulted in draws, with the visitors giving up the opening goal in both contests. Although there have been concerns about their defense, England should win their group because they have a group of experienced players who have shown they can perform well under duress.

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Team News

Serbia Latest Team News

Serbia finished second in their qualifying group behind Hungary, but their road to Euro 2024 was not without its ups and downs. During their qualification campaign, the Eagles ensured they wouldn’t make the same mistake that cost them a trip to Euro 2020—losing to Scotland in a playoff match. With their first-ever participation in the European Championship as an independent nation, the team’s qualification for Euro 2024 is historic. In their two previous attempts to qualify this decade, in 2000 and 2004, they competed as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Under the leadership of Dragan Stojković, the Serbian team consists of both established players and up-and-coming talent. Notable players include captain Dušan Tadić, master midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić, and productive forwards Aleksandar Mitrović and Dušan Vlahović. But even with their offensive strength, Serbia’s defense is still a weakness because their backline lacks any particular talent.

With nine players in their squad having earned more than 40 international caps, Serbia has an abundance of experience. Supporters of the Premier League will recognize Mitrović as he plays for Al Hilal in the top division of Saudi Arabia. After a successful spell with Dutch giants Ajax, Tadić is still a virtuoso at Fenerbahçe, and Luka Jović has found his form again after a few tough years. Vanja Milinković-Savić is the current best goalie, but Đorđe Petrović is a strong contender, especially after his impressive Chelsea stand-in performances for Robert Sánchez.

It’s unclear going into this first game whether Dušan Vlahović and Mitrović, Serbia’s two strikers, will start. Nemanja Gudelj argued in recent friendlies that he should start in midfield or even as a defender next to Nikola Milenković and Strahinja Pavlović.

For the first time since 2000, the Serbian team (then known as Yugoslavia) advanced to the European Championship. The Balkan players had the option to withdraw from the group at that time, but they chose to end their competition in the quarterfinals.

Even though the Serbs are not among their group’s favorites, they do have elite players who have the potential to succeed greatly. Initially, we are discussing Dusan Tadić, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahović, and Sergej Milinković-Savić. As a result, the Dragon Stojković team has a lot of offensive potential.

Even so, Serbia’s form in the last six games—two victories, one draw, and three losses—cannot be deemed convincing. The team defeated Sweden (3-0) after losing 1-2 to the Austrians the previous week.

When his team plays England in their opening Euro 2024 match, manager Dragan Stojkovic will have a few tricks up his sleeve. In their most recent match against Sweden, he started almost the full-strength lineup, and they won 3-0.

Predrag Rajkovic was in goal, and most of the starters were active. Alongside Sasa Lukic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic served as the midfield’s anchor. The line was led by the captain Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic, with Filip Mladenovic and Andrija Zivkovic wide on the flanks.

Dusan Tadic and Filip Kostic, two important players, came off the bench but should start the next game.

England Latest Team News

With their runner-up result in Euro 2020, England, under manager Gareth Southgate, as usual, is full of expectations heading into Euro 2020. World-class players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka are among the squad’s many talented members; they all put on outstanding performances in the best European teams during the season. Because of their strong recent performance, England is regarded as one of the strongest favorites to win the competition. But as in previous years, it remains to be seen if Southgate can make the most of this tremendous attacking potential or if the Three Lions will stick to playing ugly football and miss the chance to “bring it home” once more.

It’s incredible how much has changed in a matter of months. Nobody would have predicted that Palmer could start in England’s tournament opener at the start of the current domestic season. Now, though, things are different because the former Manchester City academy player, who finished second in the Premier League Golden Boot race to Erling Haaland, had an amazing debut season at Chelsea.

Where to slot him into England’s starting lineup is the question facing Southgate. Some believe he will challenge the equally impressive Saka for a right-flank role to assist Kane, who is anticipated to start as the starting striker. There appears to be some confusion regarding Rice’s midfield partner elsewhere, as Alexander-Arnold is expected to be selected over Mainoo. Shaw is predicted to be held back for Matchday 2, and Guehi is expected to play in defense alongside Stones.

The British were one penalty shootout away from taking home their first continental trophy at the last Euro, but in a thrilling final, they were defeated by the Italians. Of course, England hopes that this time, under Gareth Southgate, his team will triumphantly return home. Furthermore, the youthful squad that was defeated by Italy has become more experienced and is now at the top of its game. Firstly, we are discussing the leaders, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, who have emerged as true football stars in Europe in recent years.

But before the first game of Euro 2024, things are not looking so good for the British. The loss by Iceland (0-1) in a friendly game, at the very least, perplexed spectators and experts. Although the Three Lions’ lineup was not the best, they were theoretically unable to play a coherent game in this match. But using control games to assess the team’s preparedness for the tournament is incredibly pointless, given that Bosnia and Herzegovina was defeated (3-0) four days before this upset.

In recent months, manager Gareth Southgate has been experimenting with different aspects of his starting XI, using different players in different roles each time. On the other hand, in certain situations, certain players are always guaranteed a starting position.

As the starting goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford will be accompanied by Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier at full-back. The other spot in central defense is up for grabs, but John Stones is a constant. Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Kobbie Mainoo appear to be the automatic picks for the midfield trio in front of them.

It is anticipated that Harry Kane, the captain, will lead the line centrally, with Phil Foden starting on the left and Bukayo Saka starting on the right.

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Head-to-head (h2h) history and results

The first meeting between Serbia and England since the latter’s resurgence as an independent state occurred in 2006. In actuality, England has only played Serbia and Montenegro once since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, emerging victorious 2-1 in a friendly back in 2003.

However, the Three Lions have won four of their last five games against Serbia or Yugoslavia and are undefeated in the previous six.

But their most recent loss to them was especially noteworthy: in the semi-finals of the four-team Euro 1968 competition, Sir Alf Ramsey’s world champions were defeated 2-1.

Since 2006, when Serbia started playing under their current identity, the two teams have not faced each other.

England had a record of five victories, five draws, and four losses against Yugoslavia from 1939 to 1989 until Joe Cole scored a late winner in a 2003 friendly against Serbia and Montenegro.

In their lone prior meeting, England defeated Serbia 2-1.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Serbia and England as these two teams have never faced off in a competitive or friendly match. However, the Three Lions did play a friendly match against a united Serbia & Montenegro in 2003, winning 2-1.

Not only will this be Serbia and England’s first-ever meeting at a major tournament, but also in general.

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Date, Kickoff Time and Venue

The match between Serbia and England is set to begin on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at 8 p.m. BST.

The Arena AufSchalke (Veltins-Arena) in Gelsenkirchen will host.

Where can I watch England vs. Serbia?

TV channel: BBC One will provide free-to-air coverage of the match in the United Kingdom. The show begins at 7:00 p.m.

Live stream: A free live stream will be available on BBC Sport’s website as well as BBC iPlayer.

Serbia vs. England Game and TV Channel Info

Game Day: Sunday, June 16, 2024
Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
Venue: VELTINS-Arena
Game Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
TV Channel: FOX
Live Stream: Watch this match on Fubo

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Prediction

The football community is ablaze with predictions for the upcoming match between Serbia and England in Euro 2024, which is set for June 16, 2024. This match, one of the main events of Euro 2024, is evidence of the excellent football the league produces. Serbia is prepared for a strong performance because they will be playing at home. But England is ready to defy expectations in the unpredictable world of Euro 2024, bringing their own strategies and passion to the field. This match looks to be an exciting demonstration of strategy and skill, fitting with the competitive nature of Euro 2024.

Regarding Euro 2024, the tactical match between England and Serbia on June 16, 2024, is anticipated to be a highlight of the season. It looks like this will be a strategic battle between two teams trying to outmaneuver one another. With the backing of their home crowd, Serbia, who are renowned for their tactical discipline, maybe in the lead. But it’s expected that England will have some flexibility and agility on the field, which will make them a dangerous rival. Football fans should not miss this matchup in Euro 2024 because it’s not just about winning; it’s also about showcasing the best footballing talent.

Fans and sports commentators alike are giddy with anticipation for Serbia vs. England on June 16, 2024, in Euro 2024. Many different scenarios are being considered for this important game, and predictions are flying around. Whereas England is concentrated on using skill and resiliency to counter the home-field advantage, Serbia wants to capitalize on the passion of their home crowd. This Euro 2024 match is more than just a competition; it’s an exhibition of the league’s incredible talent and the unpredictable nature of football. The atmosphere is electric with anticipation ahead of Serbia vs England, which promises to be a memorable match in Euro 2024.

England is still the favorite going into their first Euro 2024 Group C match, despite a shocking 1-0 loss to Iceland in their last warm-up game. Their strength is demonstrated by their undefeated qualifying run (6 wins, 2 draws), and they should recover against a strong Serbian team.

Harry Kane is ready to find his scoring form again. He has an amazing record of 36 goals in 32 Bundesliga games and 8 goals in 8 Euro qualifying matches. His creative flair, Jude Bellingham’s and Bukayo Saka’s energy, and Phil Foden’s 19 goals and 8 assists in the Premier League this season should be too much for Serbia’s defense to handle.

England’s attacking strength may prove too much for Serbia, despite their ability as a team. The forward line and midfield of the Three Lions should control the ball and generate lots of scoring opportunities.

Although England is expected to win, it would be irresponsible to discount Serbia, who have a strong roster of players who have excelled for their clubs. They will be difficult to beat thanks to their youthful defense, skilled midfield, and numerous attacking outlets.

Even though it will be a close victory, England has the players to turn the tide of a match. There won’t be too many questions about a surprise Serbia.

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Team Squads

Serbia Team Squad

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Andrija Zivkovic, Dusan Tadic, Dusan Vlahovic, Djordje Petrovic, Filip Mladenovic, Filip Kostic, Ivan Ilic, Lazar Samardzic, Luka Jovic, Mijat Gacinovic, Milos Veljkovic, Nemanja Stojic, Nemanja Gudelj, Nemanja Maksimovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Petar Ratkov, Predrag Rajkovic, Srdjan Babic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Uros Spajic, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Sasa Lukic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Srdjan Mijailovic, Veljko Birmancevic.

Head coach: Dragan Stojković

Serbia Injuries & Team News

Serbia have no injuries or suspensions

Aleksandar Mitrovic, a striker with six goals in eight international matches, is anticipated to lead the line.

Goalkeepers: Djordje Petrovic, Predrag Rajkovic, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic
Defenders: Filip Mladenovic, Milos Veljkovic, Nemanja Gudelj, Nemanja Stojic, Nikola Milenkovic, Srdjan Babic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Uros Spajic
Midfielders: Andrija Zivkovic, Dusan Tadic, Filip Kostic, Ivan Ilic, Lazar Samardzic, Mijat Gacinovic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Sasa Lukic, Srdjan Mijailovic, Veljko Birmancevic
Forwards: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Luka Jovic, Petar Ratkov

England Team Squad

Aaron Ramsdale, Adam Wharton, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher, Declan Rice, Dean Henderson, Ezri Konsa, Eberechi Eze, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Jarrod Bowen, Jordan Pickford, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Lewis Dunk, Luke Shaw, Marc Guéhi, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Ollie Watkins, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Head coach: Gareth Southgate

England Injuries & Team News

Defender Luke Shaw is ruled out.

Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Jordan Pickford
Defenders: Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarrel Quansah, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Jarrad Branthwaite, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Lewis Dunk, Luke Shaw, Marc Guehi
Midfielders: Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, James Maddison, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Forwards: Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Jack Grealish, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Predicted Lineups

Serbia national football team predicted lineup:

Predrag Rajkovic (GK); Nemanja Stojic, Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic; Andrija Zivkovic, Ivan Ilic, Filip Mladenovic, Sasa Lukic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic; Aleksandar Mitrovic (C), Dusan Vlahovic.

England national football team predicted lineup:

Jordan Pickford (GK); John Stones, Harry Maguire, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker; Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo; Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden; Harry Kane (C).

Serbia vs England, UEFA Euro 2024 – Key Players

England Players to Watch

• In 32 games this past season, Harry Kane, a player for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, recorded 36 goals and eight assists.
• Cole Palmer scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 33 Premier League games for Chelsea FC in the previous campaign.
• Ollie Watkins played in 37 Premier League games for Aston Villa last season, tallying 19 goals and 13 assists.
• Phil Foden played 37 games in the Premier League with Manchester City last season, tallying 19 goals and eight assists.

Serbia Players to Watch

• In 37 games this past season, Fenerbahce Istanbul’s Dusan Tadic finished with nine goals and 13 assists in the Super Lig.
• Dusan Vlahovic scored 16 goals and provided four assists in 33 Serie A appearances for Juventus last season.
• Lazar Samardzic scored six goals and provided two assists in 38 games for Udinese during the previous Serie A season.
• Luka Jovic played in 30 games for AC Milan (Serie A) last season, scoring six goals and dishing out one assist.

Serbia vs. England Matchup Stats

• Over the previous two years, Serbia gave up 19 goals overall (1.3 per game), while England scored 31 goals (2.2 per game).
• Within the last two years, Serbia has scored 25 goals in 15 games. Conversely, in 14 games, England gave up nine goals.
• With a goal differential of +22, England was in positive territory.
• Serbia’s goal differential at that point was +6.