DENMARK are taking on Slovenia RIGHT NOW in the opening game of Euro 2024’s Group C – which also contains England.
The Danes lost to England in the semi-finals of the last Euros and will be looking for revenge next week, but they first need to move past a tough Slovenia side.
- Kick-off time: 5pm BST
- Stream/TV: ITV 1
- Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
- Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Kristiansen, Hjulmand, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Bah; Wind, Hojlund
EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERS
Slovenia 0-0 Denmark
5. The Danes are dominating possession in the early stages.
Slovenia are really struggling to win the ball back from the opposition.
Denmark play some nice, crisp, passing football.
Slovenia 0-0 Denmark
3. Hojlund is in the wars early on.
As he looked to chase down the ball, he slips slightly and flies into the body of the defender.
He is fine to continue but seems a little rattled by the impact.
Slovenia 0-0 Denmark
1. There is very little between these two sides.
Only one goal separated them in their two games in qualifying.
Denmark look to go on the offensive early on.
Kick-off: Slovenia vs Denmark
We are underway in the MHPArena.
It is a packed-house for this opening match.
Slovenia get the game started.
Kick-off looms in Stuttgart
As the players gather in the tunnel, all that can be heard is a cauldron of noise coming from the pitch.
Slovenia has a population smaller than Greater Manchester, what an honour this must be for every player in that squad.
Jan Oblak, despite being one of the best keepers in the world for some time, is making his first appearances in a major finals.
Danes cannot under-estimate threat
While Denmark go into this game as favourites, they need to be wary of the threat of their opponents.
Slovenia are on a six-game unbeaten streak coming into this game, which included a 2-0 victory over Portugal.
They also amassed 22 points in qualifying and expect to compete in every game they play in Germany.
Carnival atmosphere in stadium
As edge closer to kick-off, fans of both teams are getting into the party mood.
It is a sea of colour in the MHPArena as Slovenia and Denmark look to go toe-to-toe as they did in qualifying.
They know each other well and will need to utilise that in order to get a favourable result this afternoon.
Credit: EPA Credit: EPA Credit: EPA Hopes rest on young prodigy
Benjamin Sesko has given Slovenian fans hope that they can do the unthinkable in Germany.
With the young striker playing his domestic football in the country, having scored five goals in qualifying, the eyes of the world will be on him.
RB Leipzig will not have to worry about losing their prized asset, with him having signed a new deal before the tournament.
History favours Danish attack
Having won the tournament previously, Denmark also reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020.
The country has a love for this tournament and will be hoping to surprise many again.
In a group with both England and Serbia, they will be seeing this as a key game to get three points in the bag.
Denmark starting XI:
A host of Premier League talent features in this Danish side that kicks off the tournament against Slovenia.
1. Schmeichel, 3. Vestergaard, 6. Christensen, 2. Andersen, 17. Kristiansen, 23. Hjobjerg, 21. Hjulmund, 18. Bah, 10. Eriksen, 9. Hojlund, 19. Wind
Credit: @xFootballWorld_ Slovenia starting XI:
This is the side ‘The Dragons’ have chosen to start their Euro 2024 campaign this afternoon.
1. Oblak, 2. Karnicnik, 6. Bijol, 9. Sporar, 10. Elsnik, 11. Sesko, 13. Janza, 17. Mlakar, 20. Stojanovic, 21. Drkusic, 22. Cerin
Credit: @nzs_si Head to head record
Slovenia and Denmark have met each other on six occasions.
The Dragons have yet to beat The Danes to date.
Denmark have won five of the previous encounters, with one ending in a draw.
Danes fancied for early victory
Having previously won this tournament, the bookies cannot see past a win for the red and whites this evening.
Slovenia – 4/1
Draw – 21/10
Denmark – 4/7
All match odds brought to you by Betfair.
Danes looking for positive start
Stuttgart is awash with a sea of colour as we head towards the game.
Danish fans are out in force to lend their passionate support as ever to the national team.
They know that it is the form in the tournament that is key and have upset the odds before, anything is possible.
Credit: EPA Credit: EPA Experience could be key to success
Christian Eriksen has nothing to prove in footballing circles, the quality of the midfielder is undeniable.
However, his last appearance in the tournament was a very emotional one for all involved and he will see this time as the opportunity for him to have a swansong in a Denmark shirt.
His intelligence, vision and passing ability could be key for the Danes if they are hoping to make it out of the group and cause an upset in the latter rounds.
A tale of two strikers
Both Slovenia and Denmark will be looking to young forwards to impress in Germany.
Much has been said of Benjamin Sesko as he has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs due to his fine form with RB Leipzig.
Despite having a tough first season at Old Trafford, Rasmus Hojlund will be hoping to show Europe what he is really made of as he leads the line for the Danes.
Both sides with no pressure to feel
Neither of these sides will be fancied to progress far in Euro 2024.
This takes so much pressure off the teams and allows them to play with a freedom that could see them spring an upset.
Denmark did this before in the tournament when they shocked the world in Euro 1992, beating Germany 2-0 in the final.
Welcome to Slovenia vs Denmark
Two teams hoping to make the knockout stages of Euro 2024 meet at the MHP Arena as Slovenia and Denmark get their campaigns up and running.
Benjamin Sesko will lead the line for Slovenia with the in-demand forward having turned down interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd before signing a new contract with RB Leipzig.
Josip Ilicic has been brought back in from the international wilderness after being left out of the national team for three years. However, he scored a late winner against Armenia in their warmup matches and will be hoping to play a big part in Germany.
Andraz Sporar is expected to play alongside Sesko however while Atletico Madrid number one Jan Oblak takes the captain’s armband between the sticks.
For Slovenia, winger Benjamin Verbic was unable to complete the full training session on Wednesday and is a slight doubt but right-back Peter Stojanovic has made a full recovery from the muscle injury that forced him to miss both of their recent friendlies this month.
Denmark boss Hjulmand was forced to make a late change to his squad as Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson succumbed to injury and had to be replaced by Zanka, one of four Brentford players in the squad.
Christian Eriksen is fit and raring to go and will be hoping to put his nightmare Euro 2020 behind him, where he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. He recently scored a late winner against Sweden which sent the Danish fans wild.
Bees’ midfielder Christian Norgaard missed training on Thursday but this was thought to be just a precaution to ensure that he was fit for this opening match of the tournament.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
