Euro 2024

POLAND’S hottest football fan dubbed “Miss Euros” has revealed her prediction for England ahead of the tournament – including her favourite Three Lions star.Model and football fan Marta Barczok has backed Gareth Southgate’s exciting young squad to finally bring football home after decades of pain and misery at major tournaments. Poland’s hottest football fan Marta Barczok has revealed her prediction for England ahead of the EurosCredit: Instagram/@martabarczok.officialDubbed ‘Miss Euros’ Marta has backed England to go all the wayCredit: Instagram/@martabarczok.officialShe will be in Germany to follow Poland in the tournament and is hoping they will make it out of the groupsCredit: AlamyThis will be the models fourth Euros that she has attendedCredit: Instagram/@martabarczok.officialThe influencer has attended various tournaments in the past including Euro 2016 and 2020.And she’s set to jet off to Germany in just days to be apart of another blockbuster summer of football.Despite her supporting Poland and wanting them to steal the show by bringing home the illusive winner’s trophy, Marta also rates England’s chances at European glory.Harry Kane and co were just a trio of penalties away from winning the whole tournament in the rescheduled 2021 event as Italy managed to dash away the nation’s hopes.read more in football fansBut Marta feels they could finally conquer that final step this time around. She told The Sun: “My favourite for this tournament is England – I believe they have a real chance of winning and I expect them to go far.”She also revealed her favourite Three Lions star – captain and Bayern Munich top scorer Harry Kane.Marta dubbed him “the best English player” – but has a sneaky feeling another man may steal the Euros spotlight just like in the past.Most read in Euro 2024″However, I think the biggest star of this tournament will be Kylian Mbappe and I predict he will leave a significant mark on this Euro,” she said.Marta says the Euros always provide three things to make them such special times – excitement, drama and unforgettable moments.England’s new Wags set to take Euro 2024 by stormShe added: “This time, the tournament is in Germany, which is great since it’s close by and I can get there quickly, though getting tickets wasn’t easy. “The atmosphere at Euro is always electric, and I’m excited to be part of it again.”It’s a great opportunity to explore some incredible German cities.”And especially excited to visit Dortmund, home to the best stadium and most passionate fans.”Marta was less hopeful about Poland’s chances, saying: “I think Poland will make it out of the group stage.”But it will be tough due to several injuries in our squad.”One of their biggest injuries is to main man Robert Lewandowski who is set to miss their crunch clash with the Netherlands.Defender Pawel Dawidowicz and striker Karol Swiderski are also out for the opening match.Seeing our team play live, feeling the energy of the crowd, and being part of the sea of white and red supporters is an experience like no otherMarta BarczokPoland’s hottest fanMarta is still thrilled to cheer along the Eagles even though they face a tricky three matches to qualify.Sat in Group D, Poland face the Netherlands in their first game which many feel will be the crucial decider for the runner-up spot and automatic qualification.This is due to Mbappe’s France – the tournament favourites – also being in the group.The French squad have made it to three of the last four major international finals and won the World Cup in 2018.Poland also face Austria in a tricky tie which could be pivotal in deciding which nation qualifies in third place and has a chance to progress. Marta said: “I can’t wait. Seeing our team play live, feeling the energy of the crowd, and being part of the sea of white and red supporters is an experience like no other.”The latest news is disappointing – Robert Lewandowski will not be playing against the Netherlands. “This is a big blow to our chances, but I still believe in the team’s ability to fight hard and perform well.”My favourite for this tournament is England – I believe they have a real chance of winning and I expect them to go farMarta BarczokPoland’s hottest fanMarta is already looking ahead to the next Euros in 2028 which is set to be held in the UK and Ireland as she lives in London.”It will be incredibly convenient and thrilling to have such a major tournament right at my doorstep,” she added.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt comes as Croatia’s stunning fan, Ivana Knoll has already rocked up in Germany and is ready to watch Croatia battle their way through the predicted “group of death”.Knoll is known for her particularly revealing outfits and has left fans dying to know whether she has any tricks up her sleeve for her trip to Germany.Marta is confident that Harry Kane will have a good tournament even calling him her favourite England playerCredit: Instagram/@martabarczok.officialMarta’s Poland will have to face a formidable France side with her pick for player of the tournament Kylian Mbappe set to starCredit: Instagram/@martabarczok.officialMarta lives in London and is a regular fan favourite at the Tottenham Hotspur StadiumCredit: Instagram/@martabarczok.official More

LOSING their final warm-up match 1-0 at home to an Iceland side who have not even qualified for Euro 2024 is far from ideal for England.But it is also not a reason to start to panic. Gareth Southgate has the weight of a nation’s hopes on his shouldersCredit: PAGareth Southgate’s men still go into this summer’s Euros finals as one of the favourites to win the whole thing.There are few teams in the tournament who can match the English in terms of sheer depth in their squads, although there is one notable area of weakness.Nor in the creativity and attacking threat that they carry within their squad. The questions around selection around England are coming more from a position of strength with the sheer number of options that Southgate has to choose from coming into their group stage matches.read more on euro 2024In their first Group C match, England face a tough opponent in Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. While England will be favourites they will have to be aware of the threat carried by a physically and technically strong Serbian side who have a number of talented attacking players.Here are three key areas where England need to dominate if they are to open their campaign with a morale-boosting win.England’s need for creativityOne of the biggest question marks for Southgate surrounds the way that they set up their midfield and wide attackers. Most read in Euro 2024Declan Rice had plenty of the ball against Iceland but mostly passed it sidewaysKobbie Mainoo also found it hard to break down the Icelandic defenceThe strength of depth that England have in these positions is frightening.But getting the setup right will have a huge bearing in this game as England are likely to have to work had to break down a stubborn and well-organised Serbian defensive unit.In the wide attacking areas Southgate will probably play Phil Foden from the left, although he will drift inside, with Bukayo Saka from the right as a more traditional wide attacker. This means places on the bench for the likes of Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer who also have the quality to start the game. In the midfield, the big question will surround who partners Declan Rice at the base of the midfield as Jude Bellingham plays as the central attacking midfielder.Play Foden & Bellingham centrally & go for it! | Jack Wilshere’s plan to win the EurosWhile Foden will play on the left side of the attack he can move centrally, and makes intelligent curved runs to attack the free space in the opposition penalty areaWe can expect England to be possession-dominant in this match as Serbia are likely to defend in a medium to deep defensive block.Southgate’s side will have to find a way to unlock the Serbian defensive structure through clever movement and passing to break the lines. This means having players like Foden and Bellingham, who are capable of finding and exploiting space in the opposition half of the pitch.Their success at moving out of their positions to create moments of danger will be key for England.While Foden and Bellingham, and even Saka and Harry Kane, will rotate in and out of space as they look to find space that can be exploited in the Serbian half of the pitch it is important that England have players who can find their runs as they move. Rice is, of course, capable of this with his progressive passing and ability to break lines to send teammates into space. Man United’s Kobbie Mainoo could well be the answer alongside Rice as he is also comfortable when in possession and having to break the last line.Rice receives the ball and team-mates make runs to attack space. However it depends on Rice having the quality to find these runsEnsuring that they get the right balance between creative passers and players who can make runs to attack and open space will be key for England in this match.However Mainoo and Rice both had problems picking the lock to open up the Icelandic defence at Wembley last week.Solving the left-back problemIt is a mark of the issues that England have at left-back that Luke Shaw is the only recognised one in the squad – and he is struggling for fitness having not played for some time. In their last warm-up match against Iceland, Kieran Trippier was used at left-back and despite the quality on the ball of the Newcastle man, there was a clear downgrade in using a right-footed player at left-back.There is an argument to be made that calling up the likes of Levi Colwill, of Chelsea, would have made sense – given his ability to play either as a left-sided central defender or as a left-back.But instead Southgate appears to be planning to use Trippier on that side. The main drawback with using a right-footed player in this position is that it breaks the build-up patterns as they move the ball out from the back. A right-footed player will typically look to play inside or narrow as opposed to taking possession and moving the ball outside on his left foot.Kieran Trippier is likely to get the nod against SerbiaAgainst Iceland, Trippier is at left back and has options ahead of him, but instead he turns the ball back and plays to the centre backFor a side like England who can expect to dominate possession in most games, having a player who is this passive in a key position like left-back can slow and break the pattern of their attack.This can allow the opposition time to recover and reset their defensive block. This could see England be relatively one-dimensional in the way that they build their attacks with a clear preference for attacking down the right.Trippier is in possession in the final third and has the ball on his prefered right foot. However his body shape turns him inside and the move ends with a passive pass to a central defenderWhile there is a chance that Luke Shaw will be fit enough to play some part in this tournament it is looking unlikely against Serbia. So it looks like Trippier will start at left-back for the Three Lions’ opening fixture, which could be a problem.England Euro 2024 guideGARETH SOUTHGATE is under no illusions coming into this competition – it is win or bust.
The Three Lions have never had a better opportunity to end their 58-year wait for a major international trophy given the talent and experience they have in their armoury.
MANAGER: Gareth Southgate
The former England star has come closer than anyone since Sir Alf Ramsey to ending the Three Lions’ trophy hoodoo.
Southgate is aware that the nations expects, and has even suggested he will quit if he doesn’t deliver the European Championship.
STAR MAN: Jude Bellingham
The Real Madrid star is arguably the world’s best player at the moment and gives England the platform they need to dominate big games.
How England attack
England will look to dominate the ball against almost everybody.
Declan Rice is crucial in progressing the ball, Bellingham, Saka and Foden will rotate to pull defenders out of position and Kane can both score and drop deep to provide chances for others.
How England defend
England press man-to-man with the midfield pushing up to support Kane when the ball is lost and look to win it as close to the opposition goal as possible.
However, the left-back spot could be a cause for concern, particularly with Luke Shaw entering the tournament with fitness worries.
Read the full England Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags.

Serbia are dangerous in transitionSerbia will come into this match knowing they will see less of the ball and that they will have to defend in a deeper and more structured manner. With this said though they do bring threat in transition and on the counterattack with the ability to quickly break out and create chances. Serbia are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formationSerbia have the ball wide position and as the Swedish defenders are intent on marking Vlahovic it is Milenkovic-Savic who makes a run from deep to get on the end of the crossWhile England will be in their 4-2-3-1 shape we will see Serbia play in a 3-5-2 with two powerful and technical centre forwards. They typically play quickly into the feet or body of their strikers, usually Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic, and then move the ball out wide. When the ball goes into wide positions they will then push the likes of Sergej Milenkovic-Savic into attacking positions.If England push forward and into higher positions in order to look to break down the defensive block from Serbia then they will leave spaces behind them that can be exploited. The Serbians will be especially dangerous in these positions as they will leave their two strikers high and in advanced positions to help them to transition quickly and aggressively.Vlahovic drops deep and pulls defenders out with him. As he takes the ball he then plays quickly out wide. As the pass is played Mitrovic makes a run on the blind side to attack the space and get on the end of the pass into the middleConclusionOpening games in major tournaments are always difficult, especially for teams that are considered to be the favourites.READ MORE SUN STORIESEngland have undoubted quality going forward they will have to answer questions in deeper areas or build up. Serbia will also carry a significant threat on the counterattack that the English will have to be aware of.Serbia Euro 2024 guideSERBIA have qualified for three of the last four World Cups but been non-existent on the European front in the past 24 years.
When they last appeared at the Euros, back in 2000, they were still called Yugoslavia and played in blue, as opposed to the red they wear today.
MANAGER: Dragan Stojkovic
Captain, leader, legend of the old Yugoslavia. Was named in the team of the tournament at Italia 90.
STAR MAN: Dusan Tadic
His best years may be behind him, but the 35-year-old is still capable of controlling games in midfield with a creative spark that cannot be ignored.
How Serbia attack
Serbia have a slow and patient build-up as they look to work the ball into the middle of the pitch.
But when they reach those areas they will rapidly change the pace and look to find foxes in the box, Aleksandar Mitrovic and/or Dusan Vlahovic.
How Serbia defend
Serbia’s striker tends to press high while the rest of the team sit deeper.
But their press can be inconsistent, leaving them easy to pass through or beat with a ball over the top.
Read the full Serbia Euro 2024 guide, including predicted line-up, odds and Wags More