Match previews

EUROPEAN champions Italy and surprise package Albania are set for their Euro 2024 opener as part of the toughest group in the competition.The Azzurri and the Albanian national team face off on Saturday at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.Italy will be hoping to retain their European title crown at Euro 2024Credit: ReutersAlbania shocked the continent after advancing to the finals of Euro 2024Credit: AFPThe two teams are part of the fiery Group B, which also includes Spain and Croatia.Italy are looking to defend their European crown after beating England on penalties at Wembley back in Euro 2020.The reigning champions have won the competition twice and made two more finals.However, the Italian national team haven’t been the same since their last title as they missed out on the 2022 World Cup.Read More on FootballNevertheless, Luciano Spalletti’s side still star power with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco and Juventus’ Federico Chiesa available.They are joined by Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario and Arsenal’s Jorginho.Albania are set for their second Euros competition after their debut in 2016.And manager Sylvinho will be able to rely on experienced players, such as Brentford’s Thomas Strakosha, Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti, Lazio’s Elseid Hysaj, Sassuolo’s Marash Kumbulla and Chelsea’s Armando Broja.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSInter Milan star Kristjan Asllani is also expected to play a big part in Germany.Path to the EurosItaly made it to Euro 2024 as runners-up during the qualifying stage as they finished behind England in Group C.How France can win Euro 2024The Azzurri bested Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta but didn’t look particularly impressive after just four wins and two losses.Albania, on the other hand, surprised the continent when they topped Group E.Sylvinho’s underdogs overcame runners-up Czech Republic as well as Poland, Moldova and the Faroe Islands with four wins and one loss.Team NewsItaly boss Luciano Spalletti has no injuries heading to the Euro 2024 opener.But Spalletti is not without notable absences as Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali will miss the tournament after he was banned for 10 months in October following betting breaches.Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie, on the other hand, has been sidelined due to a quad injury.The same goes for Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo, Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi and Atalanta Giorgio Scalvini.Albania boss Sylvinho is set to field a fully fit squad this weekend.Ones to watchItaly have a raft of stars to help them in their bid to retain their title.Inter Milan star Davide Frattesi stood out in the qualifying stage with four goals for his national team.Frattesi also registered eight goals and seven assists in 42 appearances for Inter this season.However, the opposition will want to be especially careful of Federico Chiesa, Jorginho, Nicolo Barella and of course Gianluca Scamacca who helped Atalanta win the Europa League.Albania will heavily rely on Armando Broja’s brilliance but Gwangju’s Jasir Asani and Sassuolo’s Nedim Bajrami have proven to be reliable.Head-to-HeadItaly and Albania’s first ever match took place in 2014 during an international friendly that the former won 1-0.Since then, the Azzurri have won all of their four meetings across all competitions.The Italians have scored seven goals along the way while the Albanians only managed one.This is the first time ever the two teams face off in the finals of an international competition.SunSport PredictionItaly pose as the favourites as they have the star power and the experience. However, the Azzurri haven’t been as impressive as they were four years ago and will have to be careful against Albania who have been creating upsets the last two years.Prediction: 2-1PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Italy vs Albania?
Italy’s opening game against Albania will take place on Saturday, June 15.
The clash will kick off at 8pm BST.
Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund will play host to the game.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
Italy vs Albania will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
You can live stream the action from the BBC iPlayer, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
Yes, the game is available for FREE on BBC One, so long as you have a TV licence.
READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Italy – 7/20
Draw – 19/5
Albania – 17/2
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication.EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

ENGLAND kick off their Euro 2024 campaign with a challenging fixture against Serbia.The Three Lions and the Eagles face off on Sunday at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.England are looking to win their first trophy since the 1966 World CupCredit: GettySerbia pose as a tough obstacle for England at Euro 2024Credit: PAGareth Southgate’s side is still chasing its first ever trophy since the 1966 World Cup after coming extremely close in the last few tournaments.England finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup, were runners-up at Euro 2020 and made the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.In fact, Southgate’s men were only just a whisker away from lifting the European trophy at Wembley four years ago but lost to Italy on penalties.The Three Lions are still among the favourites but face a few hurdles along the way in the group stage.Read More on FootballEngland have been drawn with Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in Group C.And they kick things off with an inexperienced Serbian side that will be laying in their first ever Euros since 2000 when they competed as Yugoslavia.However, Dragan Stojkovic’s side won’t be short of talented and experienced stars at his disposal.Premier League aces likes Chelsea’s Djordje Petrovic and Fulham’s Sasa Lukic are expected to play a big part.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSAnd they will be joined by ex-Southampton star Dusan Tadic, former Craven Cottage hitman Aleksandar Mitrovic, Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj and the experienced Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.Path to the EurosEngland cruised to the Euro 2024 finals in undefeated fashion during the qualifying round.Harry Kane reveals his ‘perfect outcome’ before heading off to EurosThe Three Lions bested Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta with six victories along the way.Gareth Southgate’s men dominated as they scored 22 goals and conceded only four.Serbia, on the other hand, qualified for their first ever European competition as runners-up in Group G behind Hungary.Dragan Stojkovic’s men bested Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria along the way with four wins and two losses.Team NewsEngland will be without a left-back as the only man for the position Luke Shaw is still dealing with a muscle injury that has kept him sidelined since February.However, there is hope Manchester United ace Shaw will be fit in time for the group stage.Manchester City star John Stones should be available despite suffering a knock during Friday’s friendly loss to Iceland at Wembley.Gareth Southgate left a number of big names out of his squad such as the injured Harry Maguire who didn’t make the cut due to a calf injury.Maguire’s United team-mate Marcus Rashford was excluded after a poor season as were City star Grealish, Arsenal ace Ben White, Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, Tottenham’s James Maddison and Jordan Henderson.However, Southgate is not short of star power with the likes of Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, City’s Kyle Walker and Phil Foden as well as record man Harry Kane at his disposal.The likes of Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton, Ollie Watkins and Eberechi Eze are facing their first major test on the international stage.The same goes for Southgate’s largely inexperienced defence which will be going up against a fully fit Serbia side whose frontline will be led by captain Dusan Tadic as well as Dusan Vlahovic and Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.Ones to watchEngland will be showcasing a stunning frontline that will be spearheaded by Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane.Kane will be joined by the likes of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka as well as Ballon d’Or contender Jude Bellingham.The Three Lions’ back four will also rely a lot on Declan Rice that will be expected to guard Gareth Southgate’s defence.Southgate’s men will need a solid defensive display as they will have to deal with the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Fenerbahce star Dusan Tadic.Manager Dragan Stojkovic also has the likes of AC Milan’s Luka Jovic and Juventus’ Filip Kostic available to fire up his attack.And Al-Hilal’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could help limit England’s attacking prowess in midfield.Head-to-HeadEngland and Serbia have only faced off once back when the latter competed as Serbia and Montenegro.The two teams met in 2003 during an international friendly at the King Power Stadium.The Three Lions won 2-1 thanks to goals by Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole, while Nenad Jestrovic temporarily equalised for his country.England also hold a better record from back when Serbia competed as part of Yugoslavia.The national team won five out of 14 matches, of which they lost four.SunSport predictionEngland pose as heavy favourites and they haven’t failed to get out the group stages since 2004. Serbia are not to be underestimated but the Three Lions have the experience.Prediction: 0-2PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Serbia vs England?
England’s opening game against Serbia will take place on Sunday, June 16.
The game kicks off at 8pm BST.
Serbia vs England will be held at Arena AufShcalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
England’s clash with Serbia will be shown live on BBC One in the UK.
You can live stream all the action from the BBC iPlayer, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
Yes, the game is available to watch for FREE, so long as you have a valid TV licence.
READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Serbia – 1/4
Draw – 24/5
England – 11/1
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication.EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

SPAIN and Croatia are set for a tough Euro 2024 opener that will feature two of the tournament’s favourites.The two European giants face off on Saturday at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.Spain are among the favourites to win Euro 2024Credit: AFPCroatia have impressed in their last two World Cup outingsCredit: GettyEuro 2024 FREE bets and offersThe Furia Roja and the Croats have been drawn in a gruelling group that also includes fellow favourites Italy and minnows Albania.And whoever wins this match could set the tone for the top spot in Group B.Spain are one of the main contenders to lift the trophy next month after their back-to-back triumphs in 2008 and 2012.The Spanish national team also made it to the semi-finals of Euro 2020.Croatia, on the other hand, have been taking football by storm ever since the 2018 World Cup when they reached the final.The Croats also finished third in the 2022 World Cup, but only made it to the Last 16 of Euro 2020 and 2016.Both teams will get to call on a number of stars in their bid for glory in Germany.Most read in Euro 2024And all of them are planning to leave it all on the pitch in what promises to be an entertaining encounter.EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSPath to the EurosSpain breezed their way to the Euro 2024 finals by topping Group A in undefeated fashion with seven wins along the way.The Furia Roja bested runners-up Scotland, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus.How France can win Euro 2024Croatia, on the other hand, finished second in Group D behind leaders Turkey.The Croats overcame Wales, Armenia and Latvia as they won five out of eight matches, of which they lost two.Team NewsSpain manager Luis de la Fuente may have to wait on Barcelona star Pedri’s fitness as he struggled with injury throughout the season.De La Fuente, though, has a number of Premier League stars to choose from, such as Brentford’s David Raya who was on loan at Arsenal, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella and Manchester City’s Rodri.The Furia Roja will also get to call upon Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon, his team-mate Nico Williams, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata, Barcelona’s Ferran Torres, his team-mate Lamine Yamal and RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo.Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic, on the other hand, will have departed Tottenham star Ivan Perisic back in action after he spent last season on the sidelines with a knee injury.Dalic will also have Fenerbahce’s Dominik Livakovic, City’s Josko Gvardiol, his team-mate Mateo Kovacic and of course Real Madrid legend Luka Modric available.Ones to watchSpain will need Rodri to emulate his Manchester City form during Euro 2024.The midfield maestro stood out for City once more and helped them win a record fourth successive Premier League title.The 27-year-old amassed nine goals and 14 assists in 50 appearances with the Citizens, who only lost one game within 90 minutes all season with the Spaniard in their starting line-up.Croatia will look up to their national hero Luka Modric who has been instrumental during the last two World Cup campaigns.Real Madrid legend Modric is now 38 years old but set for a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu and will be donning his country’s armband to add to his 175 caps.Head-to-HeadSpain and Croatia have faced off a total of 10 times across all competitions.The Spaniards have won a majority of six games, compared to the Croats’ three victories.In fact, the Furia Roja have won six of their last nine matches, of which they lost two.The two sides have met three times in the Euros with Spain winning twice in 2012 and 2020, while Croatia emerged victorious in 2016.SunSport PredictionSpain pose as the favourites against Croatia’s ageing golden generation but not by much. This could be a close one between the two tournament favourites.Prediction: 1-0 PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Spain vs Croatia?
Spain’s clash with Croatia will take place on Saturday, June 15.
The game will kick off at 5pm BST.
The Olympiastadion in Germany’s capital Berlin will play host to the match.
What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?Spain vs Croatia will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV 1 HD in the UK. You can live stream all 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 all the action for free on ITV 1 so long as you have a valid TV licence. READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Spain – 3/4
Draw – 27/10
Croatia – 15/4
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication.EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

EURO 2024 is upon us and promises some stunning encounters from the start of the group stage.Hungary and Switzerland lock horns this Saturday at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne just a day after hosts Germany kick the tournament off against Scotland.Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai will lead Hungary at Euro 2024Credit: GettyArsenal hero Granit Xhaka will captain Switzerland after his Bayer Leverkusen successCredit: RexThe Hungarians and the Swiss may have a tough act to follow, but their own match will include a strong Premier League presence.Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai will be competing for Marco Rossi’s side and will be joined by Sunderland’s Callum Styles.Switzerland, on the other hand, will be represented by Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji and Newcastle’s Fabian Schar.Akanji and Shar will be joined by ex-Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri, former Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka, ex-Nottingham Forest player Remo Freuler, former Chelsea midfielder Denis Zakaria and Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni.Hungary have proven to be quite the dark horses in major competitions.The Magyars proved it against England whom they beat twice across both legs in the Nations League two years ago.However, the Hungarian national team hasn’t made it past the Last 16 since 1972.Switzerland, on the other hand, made the Round of 16 in 2016 and the quarter-finals in 2020.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSPath to the EurosHungary made it to Euro 2024 after winning Group G in undefeated fashion after five victories.Is it coming home? Football legends discuss England’s chances for Euro 2024 at The Sun’s preview nightMarco Rossi’s side bested Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria along the way.Switzerland, on the other hand, finished second in Group I behind Romania.The Swiss overcame Israel, Belarus, Kosovo and Andorra in the qualifying stage.Team newsThe two teams don’t seem to be dealing with any late injury concerns ahead of their Euro 2024 opener in Germany.Hungary will get to call upon the likes of RB Leipzig’s Peter Gulacsi, his team-mate Willi Orban, Freiburg’s Roland Sallai, Ferencvaros’ Barnabas Varga and Hajduk Split’s Laszlo Kleinheisler.Switzerland manager Murat Yakin has quite the golden generation at his disposal which includes the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel, Inter Milan’s Yann Sommer and Monaco’s Breel Embolo.Ones to watchHungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai enjoyed an impressive campaign with Liverpool.Szoboszlai, 23, joined the Reds last summer from RB Leipzig following a £60million deal.The midfielder amassed a total of seven goals and four assists in 45 appearances in his maiden campaign at Anfield.The Hungarian star has also registered 12 goals in 42 caps with his national team.Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka also enjoyed a stunning debut campaign at Bayer Leverkusen whom he led to their first ever Bundesliga title.Xhaka helped Leverkusen win their maiden domestic Double following an incredible undefeated run that saw Xabi Alonso’s side only losing once in the Europa League final against Atalanta.The midfielder registered four goals and two assist in 50 appearances this season.This comes after the Arsenal hero’s 14 goals in 125 caps with the Swiss team. Liverpool star Szoboslai enjoyed a stunning debut campaign at AnfieldBayer Leverkusen star Xhaka will play a key role for Switzerland at Euro 2024Head-to-HeadHungary and Switzerland have faced off a total of 46 times across all competitions.The Hungarians have won a majority of 30 games while the Swiss count 11 victories.Switzerland have won all three of their most recent meetings as well as six of their last nine games, of which they only lost one.This will be the first ever time the two countries face off in the Euros.SunSport predictionThis really feels like the kind of game that could go either way as they two teams are quite evenly matched, therefore a draw might be the safest bet.Prediction: 1-1PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
When is Hungary vs Switzerland?
Hungary’s group stage opener against Switzerland will take place on Saturday, June 15.
The game kicks off at 2pm BST.
Cologne Stadium in Cologne, Germany will play host to the fixture.
What channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
Hungary vs Switzerland will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV 1 HD in the UK.
You can live stream all the action from the ITV X app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
Can I watch for FREE?
Yes, the game is available for FREE on ITV 1, so long as you have a TV licence.
READ MORE SUN STORIESOdds
Hungary – 5/2
Draw – 9/4
Switzerland – 6/5
*Odds courtesy of William Hill and correct at time of publication.EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

EXCITEMENT is building among football fans as we are just weeks away from Euro 2024 – and England continue their preparations for the iconic tournament against Bosnia & Herzegovina TOMORROW!The Three Lions are expected to sail through Group C which includes Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.England will be expected to cruise through Group CCredit: GettyBut Gareth Southgate has an important job ahead of the competition as he needs to whittle his current 33-man squad list down to 26.And there won’t be a better chance for players to prove themselves to the England boss considering the opposition has never beaten England and failed to qualify for the Euros.Furthermore, Southgate made some controversial decisions such as leaving the likes of Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling out of the provisional squad.So this gives some of England’s fringe players the chance to shine and potentially get on that plane to Germany this summer.Read more on EnglandWhen is England vs Bosnia & Herzegovina?
England are all set to face Bosnia & Herzegovina TOMORROW – Monday, June 3.
It is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm BST.
St James’ Park is the allocated arena for this match and it can host approximately 52,000 passionate fans.
The Three Lions have never played Bosnia at senior level England’s U21 side Humiliated Bosnia’s 5-1 back in 2016.
What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?
England vs Bosnia & Herzegovina will be broadcast LIVE on Channel 4 in the UK.
Coverage is expected to commence from 7pm BST – 45 minutes before kick-off.
Fans can stream the entire action via All 4 through any compatible mobile device or tablet.
Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the whole game through our live blog.
How can I watch it for FREE?YES!England vs Bosnia & Herzegovina can be watched for FREE in the UK as long as you have a valid TV license.Most read in FootballWhat is the team news?Jude Bellingham is unlikely to feature following his recent Champions League triumph with Real Madrid on Saturday.And the same for Luke Shaw who Gareth Southgate has admitted is a ‘long shot’ from participating at the Euros due to his leg injury.England’s 33-man provisional squad:Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley).Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).Elsewhere, new Bosnia boss Sergej Barbarez is expected to give captain Edin Dzeko a run out against England.However, former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac will not feature after picking an injury in Atalanta’s shock Europa League win against Bayer Leverkusen.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhat are the odds?
England to win 1/9
Draw 13/2
Bosnia & Herzegovina to win 14/1
*Odds courtesy of Paddy Power are correct at time of publication  More