England is set to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia in what promises to be an electrifying clash as Gareth Southgate aims to lead his team to glory after decades of near-misses.
Here’s what to expect in this highly anticipated match:
Gareth Southgate’s England is on a mission to erase 58 years of championship drought, and they’re starting their journey against Serbia.
Southgate has transformed the team into genuine contenders, with a fourth-place finish in the 2018 World Cup and a Euro 2020 final appearance showcasing their potential.
The spotlight will be on Harry Kane, England’s goal machine, who has consistently delivered on the international stage.
However, Southgate faces challenges with injuries to key players like Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
This will test England’s defensive resilience against Serbia’s aerial threat, as Serbia scored a significant portion of their qualifying goals from headers.
A notable inclusion is Trent Alexander-Arnold, expected to start in midfield, adding creativity and precision passing to England’s gameplay.
Although relatively new to the midfield role, Alexander-Arnold’s experience in setting up plays from set-pieces could be crucial.
On the other side, Serbia enters their first Euros as an independent nation with a potent attacking lineup led by Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic.
Mitrovic’s goal-scoring prowess will keep England’s defense on high alert.
While England holds an unbeaten record against Serbia in recent encounters, Serbia’s past victories against English teams, including the memorable Euro 1968 semi-final win, underline their capabilities.
The match is poised to be a thrilling battle between two determined teams, with England aiming for a strong start and Serbia looking to make a statement in their Euro debut.
With both sides hungry for victory, football fans can anticipate an intense and captivating showdown.