ENGLAND will look to bounce back from two disappointing draws when they face Slovakia in a huge Euro 2024 round-of-16 clash this Sunday.
The two sides will meet at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen – exactly two weeks on from England’s 1-0 win over Serbia at the same stadium.
Gareth Southgate’s side just about managed to clinch three points from that clash but went on to struggle in the following two games.
They finished top of Group C with five points from a possible nine and two goals scored.
But they will need to up the ante against Slovakia.
The Falcons finished third in Group E but still managed to book a spot in the knockout stages.
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Francesco Calzona’s side will be desperate to reach the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
And given England’s recent struggles they can go into the match with some confidence.
What is their form like?
England managed a win and two draws in the group stages but came out on top over Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.
The Three Lions have struggled to get up to speed this summer and are yet to put on a convincing performance.
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But they made it through to the final in 2021 so they certainly can’t be ruled out.
In fact, they are still favourites to WIN the tournament.
As for Slovakia, they made it through to the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stages.
The Falcons got a win, a draw and suffered one defeat in Group E and finished on the same amount of points as Belgium, Ukraine and Romania.
Team News
England received a huge boost this week when Luke Shaw declared himself fit for the round-of-16.
Should he slot straight into Southgate’s starting line-up, Kieran Trippier will likely make way having played out-of-position on the left for three games.
After dropping Trent Alexander-Arnold in favour of Conor Gallagher against Slovenia, the England boss could make another change in midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo impressed after coming off the bench on Tuesday so he could be handed a start.
Phil Foden briefly left camp this week for the birth of his third child, but he is expected to feature.
Meanwhile, Slovakia boss Calzona is set to have a full squad to choose from.
It was harsh to hook Gallagher at half-time… but Mainoo showed he’s the answer, says Jack Wilshere
KOBBIE MAINOO was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield, writes Jack Wilshere.
I think he showed why in the second half against Slovenia.
But I still feel that it was harsh on Conor Gallagher that he was taken off at half time.
Firstly because it was probably our best half of the tournament.
And secondly, because it didn’t feel like a Gareth Southgate thing to do.
It will knock Gallagher’s confidence for sure.
He will have thought that this was his chance, but he only gets a half.
Having said that, despite the disappointing result, the second half was better and Mainoo proved he is the man – or boy – to play there in future.
Read Jack Wilshere’s post-match verdict in full.
Or check out all of Jack’s Euro 2024 columns.
Ones to watch
He only played 20 minutes against Slovenia this week, but Cole Palmer was able to stake his claim for a spot in Southgate’s starting XI with an impressive cameo.
England significantly improved when he was introduced for his tournament debut in the 71st minute.
Slovakia winger Ivan Schranz is currently joint second in the Euro 2024 Golden Boot race with two goals.
He scored the winner against Belgium in Slovakia’s opening match and netted his second of the tournament versus Ukraine.
The 30-year-old could cause some problems for England on the wing, especially if Luke Shaw can’t hit the ground running.
What has been said?
Speaking after Tuesday’s disappointing match against Slovenia, England manager Southgate said: “I’m not going to back away from it, The most important thing is the supporters stay with the team.”
He continued: “I understand the narrative towards me and that’s better for the team than it being towards them.
“But it is creating an unusual environment to operate in. I’ve not seen any other team qualify and receive similar.
“I understand it, I’m not going to back away from it, but I’m very proud of the players for how they’re operating within it.”
Meanwhile, former Slovakia star Adam Nemec claims the Three Lions have looked “miserable” so far at Euro 2024.
He said: “If we’re honest, we can say that England are miserable at the moment.
“They are not nice to watch, they are not putting in good performances and the coach and the players are under enormous pressure back home.
“We can exploit that. Anything can happen at this stage.”
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When is England vs Slovakia?
- England’s clash against Slovakia will take place on Sunday, June 30.
- The game will kick off at 5pm BST.
- The game will be played at the AufSchalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
- England vs Slovakia will be shown live on ITV1 and ITV1 HD in the UK.
- Coverage begins at 3.30pm BST.
- You can live stream the action from the ITV X app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
- Yes, you can watch the game for FREE, so long as you have a valid TV licence.
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Odds
- England – 4/9
- Draw – 16/5
- Slovakia – 15/2
- England to win tie – 1/5
- Slovakia to win tie – 10/3
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
