Match Preview: Serbia vs England – kick-off, team news, predictions & where to watch
16/06/2024 – UEFA European Championship – (Group Stage – Group C)
Venue: Arena AufSchalke
England’s first Euros match kicks off on Sunday facing Serbia at 20:00.
Where to watch?
You can watch Serbia vs England on the BBC, BBC iPlayer.
The match kicks-ff at 20:00.
Possible lineups
Serbia possible starting lineup:
V. Milinkovic-Savic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Maksimovic, Lukic, Kostic; S. Milinkovic-Savic, Tadic; Mitrovic
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Form Guide
Serbia:
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WLWLDL
England:
Form (all competitions, most recent first): LWDLDW
England’s team news, possible lineup
The nation is abuzz with anticipation: who will start for England against Serbia on Sunday?
With Manchester United defender Harry Maguire out of the squad, the question of who will partner John Stones in defence looms large.
John Stones, the Manchester City centre-back, came off at half-time in the 1-0 friendly defeat by Iceland last Friday, fearing a broken toe. He also missed training due to illness on Wednesday but is expected to be fit for Sunday, likely partnering Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
In midfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold has played alongside Declan Rice in recent friendlies, with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton also making a strong impression and Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo offering another option. However, Jude Bellingham, fresh from winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, was absent from those games and is widely tipped to be England’s standout player this tournament.
England manager Gareth Southgate has a wealth of attacking options, sparking calls for Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden to play in a central role, where he excelled for his club this season, rather than on the wing.
Southgate’s challenge will be to integrate his array of attacking talents—such as Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, and Anthony Gordon—while ensuring they have the freedom to play in their most effective positions.
Match stats
- There have been 15 matches between these sides – 14 involving England and Yugoslavia plus the Three Lions’ 2-1 win against Serbia and Montenegro in a friendly in Leicester in 2003.
- Harry Kane is set to make his 23rd major tournament appearance and play his 12th game at the Euros – both will be new outright records for England.
- Jordan Pickford is one shy of matching Peter Shilton’s record of 10 clean sheets for England at major tournaments.
- Gareth Southgate’s side have won one of their previous five games in all competitions (D2, L2).
- England have played 38 games at the Euros (this will be the 39th) – the most by a team that has not won the competition.
- The Three Lions beat Croatia 1-0 at Wembley in their opening game at Euro 2020 but have failed to win their first match at their other nine European Championship appearances (D5, L4).
- Serbia have been eliminated in the group stage in each of their last four major tournament appearances, all at the World Cup – as Serbia in 2010, 2018 and 2022, and as Serbia and Montenegro in 2006.
- A third of Serbia’s 15 goals in qualifying were headers, the highest proportion of any Euro 2024 finalist.
Expert predictions
Aleksandra Stojković, Serbia reporter
England are the favourites on paper: there is no question about that. However, in tactical terms, the Three Lions might be more comfortable opponents for the Serbian team than their other Group C opponents. The two sides’ attack-minded playing styles should make for an open game, and potentially quite a few goals. Sure, Serbia are up against one of the main contenders to win the competition, but they know that their first finals campaign in 24 years will not hinge on this one match. The Eagles attitude? Give it a go: who knows what might happen.
Joe Terry, England reporter
Under Southgate’s management, England have won all three of their opening games in tournaments. As one of the favourites to win EURO 2024, the expectation is that this will be four from four come Sunday night, despite the concerns over fitness and experience in defence. If the Three Lions manage to subdue Serbia’s dangerous front men Mitrović, Vlahović and Tadić, it should provide the platform for their own attacking talents to secure the victory.
Prediction
Serbia 1-2 – We expect Serbia to breach the England goal at least once due to their aerial threat – a third of their qualifying goals came from headers – and England are without players such as Harry Maguire.
Despite England’s poor performance against Iceland, Southgate will now have a near full-strength XI and there should be enough skill, talent and experience to secure all three points.